A senior lecturer at the University of Energy and Natural Resources School of Mines, Dr Abdul-Wadood Moomen, has commended the decision by flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, to not grant mining concessions to mining companies in forest reserves.
According to him, Ghana has been a signatory to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and United Nations SDG 2030, particularly the SDG 15.3, which seeks to protect life on land, which includes forest areas and all wildlife reserves.
As such, he indicated that Ghana does not have to grant mining concession in forested and protected areas, as nature reserves must be protected.
“I give thumbs up to former President John Mahama, if he dreams to stop illegal mining and even not granting concessions in forest areas – that’s an excellent idea. In any case, where this comment is emanating from is the L.I that has actually been passed recently which was sponsored by the EPA to allow exploration and mining activities in certain reserves, and that has actually been the problem that has generated this…”
Dr Abdul-Wadood Moomen
Dr Moomen noted that with the country’s own good ecosystem services where every living and non-living thing thrive, there’s the need to take a cue from what is happening in Colombia to inform decisions made internally.
He explained that in Colombia, there are a whole lot of mining activities in the forested areas which are unsanctioned, leading to environmental devastation.
“I do not think currently in the mining laws of Ghana and the minerals and mining policy of Ghana, there is any section that allows the granting of concessions in forested areas. It’s unacceptable. For that reason, if the former President suggests that, I agree with him.”
Dr Abdul-Wadood Moomen
Steering clear off forest reserves
Commenting on the alleged statement made by CEO of Minerals Commission, Martin Ayisi, whereby he stated that concessions should be granted to some extent to allow responsible mining in these reserves and foil any attempt by illegal miners to take over these reserves, Dr Moomen highlighted that he “cannot disagree” with Martin Ayisi.
Nonetheless, he expressed that there is the need to investigate thoroughly the proposal the Minerals Commission’s CEO has set in this regard.
“But as an intellectual, if we do so, Ghana is a signatory to the UNCCF, UNCCD convention and Ghana is also a signatory to the SDGs, and if we allow mining in forest areas, we may be contravening all these global policies and conventions that we have agreed, which have all frowned up on resource extraction in reserve, nature, bio-diversity areas. For that reason, it is unacceptable, and it is illegal to do that.”
Dr Abdul-Wadood Moomen
Furthermore, Mr Moomen emphasized that when such an idea is carried out, government stands the risk of jeopardizing the opportunities of future generations in the next five years. To this end, he underscored that it is highly unacceptable, and the repercussions are more alarming and cannot be actually traded for resource extraction.
“… Just consider the significance of forest areas in carbon sequestration and also the protection of waterbodies – both underground and surface waterbodies… So, we may have to engage the Minerals Commission at some point in time to do the cost-benefit analysis. But in any case, I do not see anywhere around the world where mining is legally accepted in forested areas.”
Dr Abdul-Wadood Moomen
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