By Michael Owusu Duodu
Goaso (Ahafo), Sept. 26, GNA-Mr Glen Asomaning, the Operations Director of the Nature and Development Foundation (NDF), an environmentally inclined non-government organisation, has called on stakeholders to protect forest reserves in Ahafo Region from illegal mining, popularly known as “galamsey”.
He said a study showed that presently there was no illegal mining activity going on in the various forest reserves in the region, urging the stakeholders to take the responsibility of protecting the reserves from exploitation.
Mr Asomaning made the call when speaking at a multi-stakeholder mining forum, at Goaso, the Ahafo Regional.
The forum was on the theme: “Reducing Deforestation Caused by Pervasive Irresponsible Mining.”
The NDF, in collaboration with the Forestry Commission, Environmental Protection Authority, and the Minerals Commission, organised the forum.
It was attended by government officials, traditional leaders, small-scale miners, as well as civil society organisations and actors and the media.
Mr Asomaning indicated that illegal mining remained one of the greatest threats to forest reserves and called for collective and concerted approaches to stem the menace in the country and to preserve forest reserves for posterity.
“Through this forum, all will come to the understanding of the need to stem illegal mining from entering the Ahafo forest reserves”, he explained.
The stakeholders called on the government to actively engage and involve traditional authorities in the issuance of licenses, permits, and concessions to mining companies and small-scale miners.
According to them, chiefs and queens were the embodiment of the people and custodians of lands, and their active involvement would greatly stem the growing illegal mining in the country.
GNA
Edited by Dennis Peprah/Benjamin Mensah
Reporter: Michael Owusu Duodu