New deal for Galamsey operators

THE ILLEGAL mining operators (Galamsey) who are constantly harassed by the security forces for the severe damage they have been causing to the environment through their illegal activities, can now sigh with relief.

They are to be allowed to identify areas with gold deposit to enable them mine as small scale miners under strict supervision.

The Western Regional Minister, Hon. Joseph Boahen Aidoo, who dropped this hint at the inauguration of the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) in Sekondi last Monday said the policy would not only help to check the environmental degradation caused by the galamsey operators but will also help to create employment for the youth, some of whom, as galamsey operators, have been creating problems for the large mining companies in the region.

According to the Regional Minister, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Amenfi East, his administration together with the Ministry of Mines already held discussions on the issue and would issue licence to the leaders of the galamsey operators to enable them monitor their activities and ensure that they operate in accordance with the mining laws.

Hon. Aidoo told the gathering that over the years the mining sector of the region's economy has been characterised by tension and clashes between the youth and the mining companies over the provision of non-existing jobs.

According to him in his attempt to reduce this tension, his administration negotiated and secured ?2 billion from Goldfields Ghana Limited (GGL), a Tarkwa based mining company, for the people of New Atuabo who were resettled after their original place of abode had been taken over by the company for mining operations.

He said GGL donated the money as seed money in support of the government's social relief programme for the community, adding that training programmes in batik, tie and dye and other income-generating activities had already been organised for the people to help solve the unemployment problem.

Minister Aidoo was hopeful that when the galamsey operators who are spread all over the mining communities are finally given the licence to operate under strict supervision, half of the unemployment and agitation problems would have been solved.

The Regional Minister charged his District Chief Executives (DCEs) to make what he described as strenuous efforts to attract assistance from Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and other bodies that could help them to identify tourism potentials in the region and to develop them so that employment and income-generating avenues could be created for the people and foreign exchange generated for the country.

Hon. Aidoo said his administration cannot talk about investment without addressing the problem of land acquisition. According to him if they are to attract the needed investment into the region, the DCEs and their respective assembly members should acquire and create land banks for future development activities by potential investors.

"Government is determined to strengthen the private sector to plan an active role to ensure that it functions as an engine of growth and wealth creation for poverty reduction.

In this vein, we need to ensure that land is free of litigation and disputes to enable private investors to acquire sites for business activities," he said.

The Regional Minister told the gathering, which included his regional co-ordinator, Mr. M. K. Homiah, that as part of his development programme for the region, a farmer's housing scheme will be launched next month.

The scheme, he continued, "is to provide our hard working farmers affordable yet quality housing that will make them feel a sense of pride in where they live."