GhIS proposes solutions to galamsey menace

The Ghana Institution of Surveyors (GhIS) has recommended some measures to help government curb the illegal mining menace localised as galamsey in the country.

President of GhIS, Edwin Addo-Tawiah said the introduction of demarcation of boundaries of all mining concessions is a sure way to regulate the sector and also reduce the dispute between the interested parties.

Addressing the media at the GhIS secretariat in Accra, Mr. Addo-Tawiah explained that pillars should be set up at vantage points to mark the boundaries of the concessions.

This he said will ensure all parties involved in legal mining activities adhere to the limits of the concession.

“The boundaries of every concession should be well demarcated and pillared. The nature of the pillars should be well specified so that we can reduce disputes between farmers, the district assemblies and the concession holders. In addition, the limits of the concession can be strictly adhered to by stakeholders. Also, after mining, stakeholders can hold the investor responsible for any reclamation,” he stressed.

In order to avoid the pollution of water bodies, Mr. Addo-Tawiah advised that the source of water used to wash the minerals, after they have been mined, as well as the direction of the flow of such water should be indicated.

He said, “The source of water for washing the minerals mined should be determined as well as the direction of flow should be indicated so that it could be ascertained whether or not it would flow into an existing river and contaminate the water body.”

Recently, government imposed a six-month ban on small scale mining to regulate the mining industry and curb the galamsey menace in order to protect the country’s water bodies from contamination.