Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources: A ban on small scale mining is not a viable solution
The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, George Mireku Duker, has rejected recent calls for a total ban on all small-scale mining activities, describing such demands as misdirected.
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Speaking at the commissioning of the Meretweso Community Mining Scheme in the Upper Denkyira East Municipality of the Central Region on September 12, 2024, Mr. Duker acknowledged the environmental damage caused by illegal mining but argued against a blanket ban on the sector.
While condemning the degradation of key water bodies caused by illegal mining, the minister stressed the need for targeted measures to address these challenges, than an outright ban on all small scale mining activities.
“Yes, people are destroying our water bodies; there are measures we need to take to clamp down on recalcitrants who are destroying our water bodies, and I agree with them perfectly... But I am against it,” Mr. Duker said.
“Personally, I am against the call for a ban on mining generally. You can’t ban mining. Why must you ban mining?” he added.
His comments came in response to appeals from professional organisations urging President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to implement an immediate ban on all small-scale mining due to the extensive environmental destruction caused by illegal mining operations.
Mr. Duker argued that imposing a ban on small-scale mining would be a misguided approach.
“It is misdirected because I was expecting them to have condemned the statement made by His Excellency the former President Mahama before even calling for this action. You can’t just, out of the blue, say put a ban. Ban on what?” he questioned.
As a solution, the minister suggested implementing a system in which residents living along riverbanks would be trained as river guards to protect water bodies from further harm.