Support Community Mining program - Ellembelle DCE appeals to mining firms

The District Chief Executive for Ellembelle Kwasi Bonzoh has urged large scale mining companies in the country to support government's newly introduced Community Mining program by releasing part of their concessions that can be given to small scale mining companies under the scheme. He says the move will help government to create jobs for communities whose livelihood depend on mining.

As part of reforms to sanitize the small scale mining sector, government, after placing ban on the illegalities introduced the community mining scheme to absorb residents in communities whose livelihood depend on it after lifting the ban in December 2018. The scheme is likely to suceced if large scale mining companies on whose concessions the illegality were perpetrated before the ban will be willing to cede portions of their lands to support the scheme. Residents who will partake in the Community Mining Scheme have been trained by the University of Mines and Technology in Tarkwa in the Western Region.

Speaking during a tour of the Western Regional Minister Dr. Kobby Otchere Darkoh Mensah on Thursday, the DCE for Ellembelle Kwasi Bonzoh after interracting with management of Adamus Resources urged large scale mining firms to support the Community Mining Scheme.

He said, ...you know one of the ways to have the social license from these communities is through government's Community Mining Scheme. We want to appeal to you to look  at your concession for areas where it can be given out to support the livelihood of residents who depend on mining under the Community Mining. When this is done, some of the brutalities that you [Adamus Resources] have been recording can be curtailed. 

Govt will continue fighting illegal mining

Mr. Bonzoh was however not enthused about the infiltration of some illegal small scale miners into unauthorized areas such as the Ankobra River and on concessions of large scale mining concession.

"Look at the Ankobra River. Not long ago, the river regained it natural ecology. The river was clean. But as we speak, the miners have polluted the river such that the river is such dirty again". He bemoaned.

He reiterated President Akuffo Addo's commitment at ending the illegality. 

" As a government we will continue to fight the illegality until such a time that they will no longer pose a threat to our river bodies, your mining concessions and the environment in general". Mr Bonzoh, who is affectionately known as 34K concluded.

The visit by the regional minister, supported by the Ellembelle District Assembly was to listen to concerns of private firms and some senior high schools in the district and how solutions can be arrived to address them.