By Daniel Akwasi Nuako
Bibiani (WNR), Sept. 19, GNA – Mr Samuel A. Jinapor, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, has commissioned an ultra-modern office complex at Bibiani for the Minerals Commission, to aid its monitoring and regulatory duties in the Western North Region.
The two-story office complex comprises four washrooms, two large storerooms, a kitchen on each floor and a conference hall that would help improve staff welfare and enable them to discharge their duties effectively.
Mr Jinapor said the construction formed part of the government’s vision to decentralise and bring the operations of the Minerals Commission closer to mining operators and communities.
He said though mining was acknowledged as a key economic activity for residents in these areas, it was crucial that they adhered to the country’s mining regulations.
Mr Jinapor outlined specific features of the new office that made it an ideal hub for mining- related activities in the area and charged the staff to work hard towards achieving the set goals of the commission.
He cited the Asante Gold Bibiani Limited at Bibiani, Chirano Gold Mines Limited at Chirano and Ghana Bauxite Cooperation at Awaso, as the three large mining companies operating in the region.
Mr Jinapor reaffirmed the government’s unflinching commitment to the fight against the ‘galamsey’ menace which undoubtedly threatened their very existence.
He said the government had demonstrated its commitments through several initiatives such as the declaration of water bodies as Red Zones for mining, the suspension of reconnaissance, prospecting and exploration in forest reserves unless in exceptional circumstances, the introduction of Operation Halt II with the mandate to decommission equipment used in illegal mining, the ban on the manufacture, sale or dealing in changfa.
Others were, the introduction of mercury-free, Gold Katchas, retooling of the inspectorate Division of the Minerals Commission, introduction of the National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Programme (NAELP), and the training of judges to ensure strict enforcement of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended by Act 995.
Mr Jinapor indicated that despite these measures, some nation-wreckers, motivated by their own selfish interest, continued to destroy water bodies and forest reserves.
“We are aware that what we are dealing with is money, and the cartels involved will, always try to find ways of outwitting us but we will not relent in our efforts, we will continue to adopt the necessary strategies to protect our water bodies, environment and forest reserves for unborn generations”.
He announced that the President Nana Akufo-Addo had constituted an Ad hoc Ministerial Committee, under the chairmanship of the Minister of National Security to engage all stakeholders and to find a common ground to fight the canker.
The Chairperson of the Minerals Commission, Mrs Barbara Oteng-Gyasi, said the state-of-the-art edifice was expected to enhance service delivery challenges small-scale miners within the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai Municipality faced, as well as facilitate the monitoring and compliance role of the Commission.
Mrs Oteng-Gyasi, enumerated several interventions through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to sanitise and streamline mining operations particularly in the small-scale mining sector, which included Community Mining Scheme and Gold Katcha.
Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II, the Paramount of Chief Sefwi Anhwiaso Traditional Area and President of the National House of Chiefs commended the government for its effort in addressing the challenges of small-scale mining in the country.
He urged traditional leaders across the country to rise and help save the country’s mineral resources from the harmful activities of illegal miners.
The Bibiani Minerals Commission office is the third modernised edifice to be unveiled within the last four months, while similar ones are being constructed in Kumasi, Tamale and Bole and are expected to be completed by November 2024.
GNA