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Government achieves 85% success rate on “galamsey” fight – Minister

By Godwill Arthur-Mensah, GNA 

Accra, Sept. 11, GNA – Mr Kwaku
Asomah-Cheremeh, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, on Wednesday said
government has achieved 85% success rate in the fight against illegal
small-scale mining, otherwise known as galamsey.

He said there were some recalcitrant
individuals including some chiefs and security personnel, who were complicit in
illegal mining, hence, the 15% shortfall.

It was in that regard, the Minerals and
Mining Law was amended to ensure stiffer punishment for mining offenders- 15
years minimum sentence and 25 years maximum, while the fine ranged between
10,000 and 15,000 penalty units.

Mr Asomah-Cheremeh told the media at a
Meet-the-Press Series in Accra.

He said 220 mining guards had been trained
and deployed to the mining communities to ensure sanctity of the environment.

He said the World Bank had supported Ghana
Government with some funds to implement the Multi-sectoral Mining Integrated
Project (MMIP) and that the MMIP 
Documents would be launched in September 17, this month at the
University of Ghana.

On Atewa Forest bauxite mining, the Minister
said government would undertake sustainable mining in order not to destroy the
ecosystem and water bodies in the area, saying, that some Australian experts
would support mining of bauxite in the Atewa Forest to prevent any danger to
the ecology.

Explaining the contribution of mining to the
national economy, Mr Asomah-Cheremeh said it had contributed GH¢1.3 billion in
2019, representing 17 percent of the total revenues collected by the Ghana
Revenue Authority, while US$3.3 billion was accrued on export merchandise.

He added that 26,425 jobs had been created
in the mining industry this year, specifically by the large-scale mining firms.

He said US$953 million was invested in the
mining sector as at June this year, with 2.1 million ounces of gold produced so
far.

He added that the Ghana Integrated Aluminium
Corporation had interviewed some 20 companies and shortlisted 16, who expressed
interests in investing in the bauxite/aluminium value chain in the country.

On the National Cathedral, the Minister said
the land designated for the project had been cleared and work would soon begin
on the site.

GNA

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