Addressing a press conference at the International Press Center in Accra, the CSOs, which advocate for environmental protection, emphasized the urgent need to address the escalating issues of illegal mining, environmental degradation, and regulatory enforcement failures in Ghana.
According to the group, the Minerals Commission requires new, sustainability-oriented leadership.
They further stated that the Commission’s current leadership has failed to ensure responsible mining practices that safeguard social and environmental protections across the country.
“We call on the government to, as a matter of urgency, replace the Executive Director of the Minerals Commission with a visionary leader who will usher in a new era of responsible mining.
“This new leadership must prioritize transparency, accountability, and the enforcement of regulations that safeguard the social and environmental well-being of all citizens while protecting communities from the adverse effects of mineral exploration in Ghana,” the group stated.
The group also urged the government to provide the Forestry Commission with the necessary resources to confiscate excavators used in illegal mining activities in forest reserves.
“The debate over whether to burn or not to burn excavators used in illegal mining is complex, given the significant vested interests and influences at play. However, considering Ghana’s weak compliance regime and past experiences, the burning of excavators remains the most effective deterrent against the impunity of illegal miners destroying forests and rivers nationwide.
“To eliminate the need for burning excavators, as indicated by H.E. John Dramani Mahama, the government must equip the Forestry Commission with the necessary tools, resources, and financial support to effectively monitor, regulate, and combat illegal mining activities.
“This includes enabling the Commission to seize, remove, manage, and process confiscated equipment efficiently. Without such investment, efforts to curb illegal mining in forest reserves will remain ineffective and a drain on public resources.”
Source: starrfm.com.gh
