By Nneka Nwogwugwu
The Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr George Mireku Duker, led a delegation from Sudan to Tarkwa in the Western Region.
Mr Duker while addressing the media after the tour, said the visit was to fraternise and deliberate on the legal framework guiding the activities of small scale mining industry in the country.
He said “we paid the visit to Anglogold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine to acquaint ourselves with their operations in the country,” stressing that, “we chose AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine as a model for our guest to learn from them”.
Mr Duker used the opportunity to warn illegal small-scale miners who were still working in river bodies and forest reserves to desist from their operations to help protect the environment, GNA reports.
He said with the negative impact of illegal mining activities popularly known as galamsey, anyone who flouted the law would be punished.
According to the Deputy Minister, the government had introduced community mining to help create employment for the teaming youth.
He emphasized that “through community mining, the government has alternatively provided solutions to those who have been displaced at the various illegal mining enclaves. We are pleading with the citizenry working in the red zone areas to cease immediately”
He explained that aside community mining, the government had established training centres and provided incentives to support those who had been affected by illegal small-scale mining.
Mr Duker commended Iduapriem Mine for their continuous contributings towards the economy of Ghana.
His Mr Mohamed Basheer Abdalla Mennawi, Minister of Minerals for Sudan, expressed appreciation to the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor and his Deputy for the opportunity made available to them.