Radio1Ghana Serving Communities
Related Articles
Illegal mining popularly known as ‘galamsey’ has over the years become the main occupation for a large number of the youth in the country. It is on record that these illegal miners contribute to about thirty percent of the total gold produced in Ghana.
However, these galamseyers activities are associated with a lot of problems especially covering of the mined pits therefore they have been tasked to employ good mining practice to sustain the environment and make it habitable.
Following Radio1’s news bulletins and frequent visit to the mining sites in the Eastern Region, one of site has been cultivated into a coconut farm at Akyem Asikam near Kyebi in the East- Akim Municipality by a mining firm called ”Mos Mining”.
Speaking to Radio 1 news correspondent Oppong Kyekyeku, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ”Mos Mining”, Mr Micheal Carboo said, his company has seen to it that almost all of our lands has been degraded by galamsey operators, and we should not think it cannot be used for anything again. He said his company has taken it as a sacrifice to reclaimed the devastated lands in the area and see to it that, it is used for it purposes.
Mr. Micheal Carboo said, upon Radio1’s series of news bulletin, his company reclaimed the lands about two-weeks ago with the aim of planting coconut on the land, for it to regain its nutrients, in order to benefit the people. In the process of reclaiming, the company has covered all the galamsey pits, which were left open by the illegal miners, and a coconut plantation is ongoing now.
According to him, the project which started about two weeks ago, the company has invested almost Fifty Thousand Ghana Cedis [GHC 50,000] just on the recovery of the site. The land measuring about seventy acres will take over 50,000 coconut trees and will cost more than what was budgeted for and hoping to come out with good result.
He further said, before the Government can fight galamsey, unless there are jobs mostly for the youth because it is the source of their livelihood.
”Before the Government can stop galamsey, it must create jobs for the youth, because most of them depend on these mining activities for their daily bread” he lamented.
He added that government must put in place strong institutions and stern regulations body to curb the menace but with coercion, it would not succeed. He also advised that the activities of the galamseyers should not be encouraged because it has a huge devastating impact in the ecosystem.
The activities of illegal miners have been a major national development issue which has grappled Ghana over the years. Apart from depriving the country of its agricultural land, the practice has resulted in the pollution of major water bodies and grudging many people of their source of livelihood.
In an attempt to stop these illegal mining activities, the minster of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. John Peter Amewu, has given a three-week ultimatum to all illegal miners to stop their activities or be prepared to face the full rigours of the law.
Story by Oppong Kyekyeku/radiooneghana
