The Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Hajia Alima Mahama has revealed that, more than 500 young people who were previously engaged in illegal mining have received training in technical and vocational skills and have also been supported with start-up tools and equipment, through the Alternative Livelihood Programme.
The sector minister, speaking at the Information Ministry’s Meet-the-Press series, said that the beneficiaries of the programme who were fully sponsored by the government were taken from 35 severely affected “galamsey” districts across the country.
She said,
“An additional 607 youth are currently undergoing similar trainings, of which 240 are in the Community Development Institutions, while 367 are attached to Master Craftsmen and are undergoing apprenticeship.”
She also added that, the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development in collaboration with the Inter-Ministerial Committee on illegal mining have commenced the implementation of the Tree Planting and Environmental Campaign Project.
“The pilot phase of the project targeted 10 Districts for the planting of hybrid coconut trees along identified river banks. The seedlings have already been planted along the River Pra in Wassa East and Shama Districts in Western Region.”
Touching on some of the results from the programme, Hajia Alima Mahama said some beneficiaries of the Alternative Livelihood Program in Wassa East District have produced and supplied face masks, soaps and hand sanitizers for mass use.
She also added that, the beneficiaries have also produced metal stands for Veronica buckets for the MMDAs in Western and Western North Regions and some also have been privileged with the opportunity to acquire some form of education in a tertiary institutions.
“Three trainees who were at Takoradi CDVTI for the programme have gained admission to the Takoradi Technical University and are currently pursuing Higher National Diploma in Fashion Designing. A dressmaking trainee, from Nyinahin in Ashanti Region who has graduated from Agona CDVTI has opened her own shop and is receiving contracts to sew uniforms for SHS students in the district.”
Hajia Mahama said that, some trainees from Manso Nkwanta and Atwere all in Amansie West & South Districts and Tweapease in the Amansie Central District who have been trained in soap making, beads work and flour confectioneries have already started producing and selling.
Illegal Mining in Ghana
The issue of illegal mining is seen to have and is still dominating several mining communities in recent times leaving our environment and water bodies polluted and some of the youth staying out of the classroom. The practice which become very popular attaining the name ‘galamsey’ has seen numerous people getting involved and notable amongst these group of people are the youth. Many of these young ones were seen being actively involved in the ‘galamsey’ instead of being in the classroom learning. The rapid insurgence of illegal mining then forced policymakers to think more creatively about ways in which to deal with mounting unemployment in the country’s rural areas and this resulted in the birth of the Alternative Livelihood Programme which is being enjoyed by many today.
