Hon. Dominic Nitiwul, the Former Defense Minister and the Member of Parliament for the Bimbilla Constituency, has urged the government to suspend all surface mining activities for a period of at least six to seven months in order to turn the tide and regain control of the activities of illegal mining.
The former Defense Minister’s bold recommendation to suspend all surface mining to “reset the whole atmosphere” comes at the time the Government is battling with the activities of galamsey.
“What Akufo-Addo did, if President Mahama were to do same, at least this year he would have had some results. What he immediately did was to suspend all small-scale mining for about six months, if you remember.”
Hon. Dominic Nitiwul
According to Hon. Nitiwul, the government’s current approach has been hampered by a lack of political will, despite the promises made to the Ghanaian people.
The former defense minister in his recommendation drew a comparison, stating that if the current administration under President Mahama had taken similar actions as the previous government which according to him, demonstrated political will, things will have been far better.
Hon. Nitiwul in defending his claims, highlighted the immediate action taken by the previous administration, which was to suspend all small-scale mining for about six months.
He believes that the current government should emulate such approach, as he explained, “I expect that if the president wants, he should suspend it for about six to seven months, reset the whole atmosphere, and then can have a handle on it. That’s the first advice I would give him.“
Incentives and Enforcing the Law
The former defense minister acknowledged the challenges posed by the economic incentives driving illegal mining, stating, “But because people see that there’s money down the ground, so it’s very difficult to be able to stop them immediately.”
However, he emphasized the need for the government to be “ruthless” in its approach, utilizing the security forces to go after the perpetrators.
Drawing from past experiences, Nitiwul highlighted the shortcomings of the “blue guards,” a community-based monitoring initiative, warning the current minister for lands that they could be his downfall if care is not taken.
“Because one, they are not going with any arm, and so nobody fears them. And all they can do is give you information. And if they start being bribed, then I’m sorry, you’re not going to get anything out of them.”
Hon. Dominic Nitiwul
This insight underscores the importance of maintaining a vigilant approach and not relying solely on community-based initiatives, as they can be susceptible to corruption and undermining the overall efforts to combat illegal mining.
Sustained Approach
Nitiwul’s recommendation to suspend all surface mining for six to eight months is aimed to reset the entire landscape and allow the government to regain control of the situation, as he stressed.
He emphasizes the need for a district-by-district approach, starting with the “serious districts where we do a lot of mining,” in order to effectively tackle the crisis.
The former Defense Minister’s perspective highlights the gravity of the galamsey challenge and the need for the government to take decisive and sustained action.
“I’m making reference to small scale mining. I’m talking about small scale mining. In fact, I use the word surface mining. Although, I didn’t use the word small scale. I said, they should suspend surface mining for about six months.”
Hon. Dominic Nitiwul
The magnitude of clarity in his recommendation underscores the urgency and the comprehensive nature of the solution proposed.
Suspending all surface mining activities for a significant period, the government can create the necessary conditions to disrupt the existing illegal mining networks, strengthen enforcement measures, and pave the way for a more sustainable and responsible mining sector, as Hon. Nitiwul recommended.
While the government continues its fight against the galamsey menace, it must be noted that, the insights and recommendations provided by experienced and office holders like Hon. Dominic Nitiwul can serve as valuable guidance in shaping a multi-faceted and effective strategy to protect the country’s ecosystem and secure brighter future for generations.
READ ALSO : MIIF Strengthens Institutional Accountability with Internal Audit Training
