Ministry of Lands, Forestry and Mines host Shadow Minister

Accra, Aug. 17, GNA - Mr Julius Arthur, 21 a marketing student of Zenith College, Accra, was on Thursday commissioned as the Shadow Minister of Lands, Forestry and Mines following his excellent proposal on involving the youth in the activities of the Ministry.

Mr Arthur was selected out of 10 nominees, who contested in a competition organized by Excellent Award Foundation and Newmont Ghana Limited to encourage youth participation in national development. The ceremony was declared to mark the Youth Shadow Ministers' Day.

Professor Dominic Fobih, Sector Minister, who ceremoniously ushered Mr Arthur into his (Prof Fobih's) seat, explained that Mr Arthur was selected by the Ministry based on his impressive proposals on ways to address issues such as corruption and bureaucracy in the Civil Service. He said he was happy to share experience with such a youth, who had dedicated himself to serve the nation, saying; "the youth is the greatest asset that any nation could have and society must acknowledge their efforts.

Prof Fobih, therefore, advised the youth to desist from all undisciplined behaviours, which cast a slur on the image of the country, and to refrain from immoral lives that could lead to the contraction of HIV/AIDS.

He encouraged Mr Arthur to see the exposure given him as an opportunity to live up to the challenge and be a role model to the youth adding "with people like you, Ghana has hope for the future". Prof Fobih commended the organizers for their effort to involve the youth in nation building and pledged to implement some of the suggestions made by the Shadow Minister. Mr Arthur said he had the vision to mobilize the youth for reforestation and other projects that would assist the Ministry, and called for financial support from corporate institutions to effectively disseminate information on issues of national interest to his peers. He commended the Ministry for the warm reception saying; "I have always dreamed of something like this, but today it has become a reality".

The Shadow Minister urged the Ministry to tackle the issue of =93galamsey=94 operations in the country with more educational awareness programmes and observed that the youth were mostly involved. In reaction to the concern raised on galamsey operations, Mr Biagya Yakubu, Technical Director for Mines, said the Ministry was intensifying its educational programmes to create understanding that it was illegal to operate in areas earmarked for specific investors. He said the Ministry hoped to come out with a national policy on mining that would state Government's position on the industry as well as how investors would be expected to operate in the country. The Shadow Minister had the opportunity to visit the Shai Resource Reserve and interacted with both Department Heads and staff.