Give lands to support gov't community mining programme - Minister to Western Region Chiefs

The Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah has asked the Chiefs and people in the mining communities to release lands and concessions to support government’s Community Mining Programme which will soon be announced by President Akufo-Addo.

The Regional Minister made the assertion when he paid a courtesy call on the Divisional Chief of Bogoso in the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipality of the Western Region, Nana Kwesi Sumprey II at his palace on Wednesday, May 22, 2019, as part of his 3-day working visit to some part of the Region.

According to him the move will help government to create jobs for Community members whose livelihood depend on mining.

Government as part of efforts to sanitize the mining sector after placing a ban on small scale mining activities and the subsequent lifting of the ban in December 2018 has rolled out various reforms including giving training and license to galamseyers to permit them operate as small scale miners.

An app (GALAMSTOP) has also been introduced to clamp down persons who will continue to engage in galamseyers activities.

The President is expected to announce and introduce the community mining program to enable residents in mining communities whose livelihood are solely depended on mining to work.

Only small scale miners who undergone training at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) in Tarkwa will be permitted to engage in the Community Mining programme.

The Western Regional Minister told the Mining Communities to give lands to support government's Community Mining Programme and also asked them to take a cue from other traditional rulers in the world who have taken interest in the local businesses and develop interest in the programme to enable them take part.

The Divisional Chief of Bogoso, Nana Kwesi Sumprey II on his part appealed to government to talk to Golden Star Resources Limited (Prestea-Bogoso Mine) to release some of their concessions to the Community Mining Programme.