In its ongoing efforts to curb illegal mining while fostering economic development in mining communities, the government of Ghana has launched yet another Community Mining Scheme (CMS) at Meretweso in the Dunkwa-on-Offin Municipality of the Central Region.
The new concession, the 26th of its kind, is part of the broader national strategy to combat the destructive impacts of illegal small-scale mining, commonly known as galamsey while promoting sustainable livelihoods in mining areas.
The event, held on Thursday, September 12, 2024, was led by Hon. George Mireku Duker, the Member of Parliament for Tarkwa-Nsuaem, who doubles as the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, responsible for Mines.
Speaking at a durbar of chiefs and local residents, Hon. Mireku Duker emphasized the government’s commitment to addressing the unemployment challenges in Meretweso and surrounding areas.
“The concession is expected to directly create 3,000 jobs, with an additional 500 jobs indirectly created in supporting industries”, Hon. Mireku Duker announced.
The distinction between Community Mining and Galamsey
Highlighting the differences between illegal mining operations and the Community Mining Scheme, the Deputy Minister stressed that while illegal mining employs harmful chemicals and destructive methods that devastate the environment, the Community Mining Scheme adopts environmentally friendly practices.
“The CMS is not a smaller version of galamsey,” he noted, debunking the widespread misconception that CMS operations mirror illegal mining practices.
He reassured the audience that the government remains firm in its stance against all forms of illegal mining, affirming that enforcement measures will continue to be strengthened.
The Community Mining Scheme, according to Hon. Mireku Duker, represents a modernized and sustainable model of mineral exploration that benefits local communities while safeguarding natural resources.
Additionally, Hon. George Mireku Duker, the Member of Parliament for Tarkwa-Nsuaem, who doubles as the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources responsible for Mines indicated that the Community Mining Scheme has the support of President Akufo-Addo.
With the full backing of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Hon. Mireku Duker revealed that the scheme is positioned as a cornerstone of the government’s approach to transforming mining in Ghana into a more responsible and economically beneficial sector.
Preservation of Ghana’s Natural Resources
Addressing Ghana’s ongoing efforts to preserve its mineral resources, forest cover, and water bodies, Hon. Mireku Duker underscored the significant progress made by the government.
He shared plans to further bolster these achievements by deploying river guards to critical areas, tasked with the protection of water bodies and forests from the harmful impacts of illegal mining.
The Community Mining Scheme, he emphasized, forms part of a larger national strategy designed to reform small-scale mining while providing jobs and economic opportunities for local communities.
According to him, the Meretweso concession joins 25 other Community Mining Scheme operations already launched across the country, underscoring the government’s determination to promote regulated, sustainable mining.
As the fight against illegal mining continues, the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources responsible for Mines underscored the government’s commitment on its dual objectives of safeguarding the environment and creating economic empowerment for residents in mining communities.
He hailed the Community Mining Scheme as a crucial step toward achieving the government goals, with the hope that it will bring long-term benefits to the people of Meretweso and other beneficiary communities.
However, in recent times, there has been growing public agitation and calls for a ban on small-scale gold mining with some even calling for a total ban on all forms of mining in the country.
Various stakeholders, including environmental activists, labour unions, civil society groups, and community leaders, have been vocal about the government’s apparent lack of commitment to fighting galamsey, despite President Akufo-Addo’s earlier declaration that he was willing to risk his political career to stop the practice.
Organized Labour, in an earlier statement, urged the President to take swift action and declare a State of Emergency, as stipulated in Articles 31 and 31(4) of the 1992 Constitution.
It urged that the declaration should include an immediate halt to all mining activities, both legal and illegal, in forest reserves and around water bodies.
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