As concerns resurface over Ghana’s prolonged battle against illegal mining, Hon. Mohammed A. Sukparu, Member of Parliament (MP) for Sissala West, has insisted that the current government, under President John Dramani Mahama, is fully committed to the fight against galamsey.
This comes amid increasing criticism that not enough is being done to restore forest reserves and water bodies ravaged by unregulated mining activities, further raising questions about whether the government’s promises on illegal mining had amounted to anything tangible.
Questions like, if the political will truly existed, couldn’t illegal miners be flushed out of forest reserves and water bodies within weeks? Hon. Sukparu defended the government’s approach.
“If anybody says we are not doing it, then perhaps the person is not following what is happening”
Hon. Mohammed A. Sukparu, MP for Sissala West
Sukparu pointed to early steps taken by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, when he assumed office. According to him, the minister understood the complexities of the galamsey menace and took a collaborative route to tackle it.
“This isn’t a problem you can handle alone as a sector minister, and so he engaged the stakeholders,” Hon. Sukparu stated.
He recounted a key meeting that brought together nearly all Members of Parliament.
“The minister spoke to all of us that he needs everybody on board for us to tackle this menace. We should be able to provide information about illegal mining existing in our various communities”
Hon. Mohammed A. Sukparu, MP for Sissala West
Drawing from his own constituency to explain the Minister’s approach, he added: “I am coming from Sissala West and I represent the people of Sissala West. If I don’t come here and tell you that there is illegal mining happening at Sissala West, you will not be able to tell.”
Beyond Burning Excavators
Responding to criticism that the government lacked a coherent plan and relied solely on volunteered information, Sukparu insisted that a strategy was in place.
“We have a plan. We’ve been seeing it, there’s a task force. At I think, Ashanti Region, several excavators were seized and this time round, we didn’t burn the excavators as it used to happen”
Hon. Mohammed A. Sukparu, MP for Sissala West
Citing the directives from President Mahama’s administration, Sukparu explained a shift in how seized equipment is handled.
“What the president says is that when you seize those excavators, do not burn them – pleasse give the excavators to the various district assemblies so that those excavators can be used on their roads”
Hon. Mohammed A. Sukparu, MP for Sissala West
He gave an example to clarify.
“If you seize the excavators at Mampong, give it to the municipal assembly there, they will add it to the DRIP equipment. That will go a long way to support the District Road Improvement Project”
Hon. Mohammed A. Sukparu, MP for Sissala West
Recovery of Forest Reserves
Sukparu was emphatic that the government’s strategy was yielding results.
He explained that before parliament went on recess recently, there was a report by the Land’s Minister that revealed about seven forest reserves previously held hostage by illegal miners have been taken back by the government.
He described the situation before the intervention as one where entering some forests posed deadly risks.
“These were areas that nobody could even go near. If they tried, certainly the illegal miners were ready to even eliminate their life”
Hon. Mohammed A. Sukparu, MP for Sissala West
“This government is doing everything possible to ensure that our forest reserves are safe,” he emphasized.
Sukparu reiterated the importance of community participation, saying the government alone cannot tackle illegal mining without intelligence from the ground.
“The doors are very open. People should volunteer all information about the existence of illegal mining activities so that as a government we can move in to tackle it”
Hon. Mohammed A. Sukparu, MP for Sissala West
As it stands, the government is doing everything it can against illegal mining.
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