Choicenewsonline Your Choice Is Here
The member of parliament for Wassa Amenfi East constituency, Hon Nicholas Amankwah a.k.a ‘Home Boy’ has said, the real solution to eradicate illegal mining populary known as ‘galamsey’ would be to decentralise mineral rights enforcement laws in the country.
According to hon Nicholas Amankwah, it is not right for people with interest in small scale mining to come to the Minerals Commission office in Accra to obtain licenses before going back to the remote area where the mining will take place.
This, he emphasisd that, there is a need to establish Mineral Commission’s Office at the various District and municipal Assemblies especially, where mining activities remains the only source of income for the youth.
Hon “Home Boy” made this call during his address at the National Dialogue Series with the Nananom, Miners and residents from various commuties on the Theme “A National Conversation on illegal mining (Galamsey)- the way forward” organised by the Multimedia Group at Amenfiman Senior High School Assembly hall on Friday, 26.
His request according to the MP, will help Miners in his mining commuty, Wassa Akropong and Ghana at large to easily acquire mining license from their own assembly to operate devoid of harassment.
The MP, who doubles as member of the parliamentary select committee on Employment, Social Welfare and State Enterprises is of the view that, these illegal mining activities and their associated problems are local problems demanding a local enforcement approach.
This will enable small-scale miners to work and earn their livelihoods in a regulated, secure and lawful environment, he said.
The Amenfi East MP again advocating for inclusion of Chiefs in the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as ‘galamsey’.
He said, the wanton destruction of the environment and natural resources would be curtailed if the Nananom, as custodians of the lands are given some authority by the State.
Hence, he stressed that by the inclusion of local authorities, the Chiefs will have a role to play to ensure the aims of the government are achieved.
Going forward, he said all stakeholders needed to work together to stop the canker from destroying the environment.
Source: Kaakyire Kwasi Afari-New Day FM, Jomoro.
