The Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson has advocated strongly for effective implementation of Mining laws in the country.
He said while doing, authorities in charged must emphasise on those pertaining to small scale mining activities, to separate the lawful small scale miners from criminals engaged in Illegal mining activities.
"Since we haven't effectively implemented laws regulating small-scale mining, we will continue to face these issues. We must establish clear guidelines on responsible small scale mining practices", he said.
Consequently, the Minister Joseph Nelson, has appealed passionately to the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, to adopt a more pragmatic approach in this direction.
According to him, combating the rampaging illegal mining activities in the country obviously requires application of law
In line with this, Nelson emphasized the need for a fresh strategy, highlighting the devastating impact of illegal mining on water bodies, forest cover and vast majority of lands in the region.
"The fight against illegal mining is a monumental task. I'm eager to collaborate with Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah to find a new approach, as the destruction of our rivers and streams is alarming".
He continued "Simply removing miners from the lands today only leads to their return tomorrow.
We need a comprehensive solution to effectively address this issue" Joseph Nelson noted.
The Minister explained that while deterrents are effective, a comprehensive overhaul of the mining process is also very necessary.
The Minister made the call during an engagement he had with leadership of Western Regional House of Chiefs on Wednesday, 12th March 2025.
The Minister expressed concerns about devastating nature and impact of illegal mining in the country.
He said the damage has had severe impact on River Butire in Ahanta when a serious breakage occurred and caused serious flooding of the entire Ewusiejoe community during the 2024 rainy season.
Furthermore, he said he was shocked to discover that the previous administration had designated parts of the Ghana Rubber Estate farmland as a community mining site.
"I fail to comprehend why a rubber plantation would be declared a community mining site," he remarked, highlighting the illogical nature of this decision.
Joseph Nelson outlined his vision for responsible mining practices, indicating that there ought to be a clear standards practice and accountability .
"Once a mining permit is issued, the recipient must acknowledge and fulfill the associated responsibilities," he stated.
Nelson advocated for a more transparent and regulated approach, suggesting that mining sites should be easily identifiable as registered, small-scale, and responsibly operating instead of the current situation confronting all mining communities
He explained that the importance of establishing clear standards, enabling effective monitoring and evaluation, would ensure that licensed holders understand their obligations.
"In the absence of standards, monitoring becomes impossible," he stated.
Joseph Nelson observed "We must establish clear guidelines, so anyone with a license knows exactly what is expected of them."
Regarding accountability, Minister Joseph Nelson emphasized the need for a collaborative approach to address issues of openness.
He suggested the formation of a group consisting of Minerals Commission, District Chief Executives, and Security Services, with clear Key Performance Indicators (KPI's) set to guide the industry
This, he observed, would ensure that individuals in these roles are held accountable by authority for their actions and inaction.
Joseph Nelson expressed concerns about Ghana's dwindling farmlands being hijacked by illegal miners due to the rampaging illegal mining activities.
He warned that if left unchecked, the country's ability to produce food crops and major cash crops like cocoa will be severely impacted.
To address this issue, Nelson proposed a bold solution "Any chief who allows illegal mining in their area should not have the land returned to them after reclamation. Instead, the state and government should take control of the land for agricultural purposes.
The approach, he believes would aim at holding traditional leaders accountable for protecting their lands and to prioritize national food security interests.
Nelson's proposal highlights the need for effective reclamation policies that would balance economic development with environmental sustainability and social responsibility.
Again, stakeholders in the mining sector in Western Region, he reaffirmed, would have to lead an uncompromising dedication to combating illegal mining activities in the region.
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