Government urged to review Mining Laws

Cape Coast, Oct. 10, GNA - Mr Daniel Owusu-Koranteng, Executive Director of Wassa Association of Communities Affected by Mining (WACAM) has expressed concern about the country's mining laws that allowed mining companies to retain between 90 to 95 per cent of their proceeds in foreign accounts. He said the remaining five per cent to the nation was inadequate to restore the environment degradation caused by mining activities. "The Government should therefore, review the mining laws to favour Ghanaians who suffer the consequences of environmental degradation," He added.

Mr Owusu-Koranteng was speaking at the launching of a campaign "For A Better Ghana" under the auspices of the Youth for Action Ghana (YAG), a local Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), at the University of Cape Coast (UCC). The campaign under the theme, "Charting a new Path for Ghana", to be launched in all Tertiary and Second cycle institutions, to educate the youth on the negative attitude and practices of Ghanaians, that had affected the country's rapid socio-economic development.

Mr Owusu-Koranteng said due to the current world economic trend investors would prefer to invest in mining to protect their investments. He said, mining companies would complete their operations ahead of their scheduled mining concession period and thereby further worsen the degradation of the environment. Mr Owusu-Koranteng therefore, called on the youth to be interested in development issues, and ensure the country's development agenda did not compromise on the ability of future generations to satisfy their needs.

Launching the Campaign, Mr James Kwabena Bomfeh, Executive Director of YAG said, without sacrifice nothing meaningful could be achieved, and advised the students to choose only "the path" that would move the nation forward. On the theme, he said if the "chosen path of yester years" had been deserted, then there was the need for a new path for the new Ghanaian, " to take us out of our economic woes, corruption, greed, dishonesty and all other social vices." Mr Bomfeh said as future leaders, the youth must be disciplined and hardworking to bring positive change in the lives of Ghanaians, adding "they must completely abstain from pre-marital sex to avoid contracting the deadly HIV/AIDS disease."