Mahama announces new strategy to keep galamseyers out of reclaimed forest reserves
President John Mahama says the government has changed its approach to the fight against illegal mining by keeping military detachments in forest reserves after they have been cleared of illegal miners.
President John Mahama has revealed a new strategy to deter illegal miners from returning to forest reserves after they've been cleared of galamsey activities. The approach involves maintaining a military presence in the reclaimed reserves to protect them from renewed encroachment. This strategy comes after previous efforts, which involved handing back cleared reserves to the Forestry Commission, proved ineffective as illegal miners continued to return.
The President emphasized that despite the additional costs associated with maintaining a military detachment, his government remains committed to combating illegal mining. He also stressed the potential of the mining sector to create jobs, particularly for young people in the Upper East Region, and expressed the goal of formalising mining activities to improve regulation and create sustainable employment opportunities.
He cited examples like the Cardinal Mine in the Upper East Region and the Black Volta mine development in the Upper West Region as evidence of how formal mining operations can contribute to job creation. Mahama also highlighted the difference between mining in the Upper East Region, where gold is found in rock formations and does not cause significant environmental destruction, and illegal mining in southern Ghana's forest reserves.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
