By Muyid Deen Suleman
Kumasi, Nov. 03, GNA – Mr Mahama Ayariga, Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, has warned local government officials against engaging in or condoning illegal mining activities.
He said Regional Ministers as well as Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) who tolerate illegal small-scale mining operations within their jurisdictions would face strict sanctions for the resulting environmental degradation.
Mr Ayariga emphasised that local government officials, having been entrusted with positions of authority, had a responsibility to take decisive action to curb illegal mining activities in their areas.
The Minister gave the warning at a national conference on illegal small-scale mining for MMDCEs in Kumasi.
The conference was convened to deliberate on strategic interventions and strengthen local government efforts to combat illegal mining across the country.
Mr Ayariga urged all MMDCEs to lead the fight against the menace, stressing that they possessed both the authority and responsibility to implement practical measures to prevent illegal mining activities within their respective jurisdictions.
“You all must be part of the solution by taking pragmatic steps to halt illegal mining operations,” he asserted.
He underscored that combating illegal mining demanded collective responsibility, unwavering commitment, and resolute action, particularly at the grassroots level where these activities were concentrated.
Mr Ayariga stated that, he would not tolerate a situation where the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, is solely blamed for the illegal mining crisis, while other responsible authorities fail to contribute meaningfully to resolving the issue.
The Minister emphasised that safeguarding the country’s water bodies, forest reserves, and farmlands from destruction must be a shared responsibility among all leaders entrusted with local governance.
He reiterated that Regional Ministers and MMDCEs who fail to take appropriate action against illegal miners operating in their territories would be held directly accountable for the consequent environmental damage.
Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II, President of the National House of Chiefs, appealed to all stakeholders to safeguard the country’s vegetation and ecosystems from the devastating impacts of illegal mining.
He underscored that addressing illegal mining required collective responsibility, unwavering commitment and decisive action, particularly at the grassroots level where most of the activities occurred.
Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II cautioned Ghanaians against allowing short-term economic interests to destroy the country’s rich vegetation and natural resources.
He also urged security agencies to strengthen collaboration with traditional authorities to effectively address local conflicts that continued to threaten peace and stability in mining communities.
According to him, such conflicts imposed avoidable financial burdens on the State and required a coordinated response from all relevant stakeholders.
The President of the National House of Chiefs identified the unregulated allocation of land for mining as one of the major drivers of illegal mining.
He stressed that whenever land was allocated for mining purposes, all statutory procedures and documentation must be duly completed to ensure operations were conducted legally and responsibly.
GNA
Edited by Kwabia Owusu-Mensah/Lydia Kukua Asamoah