Govt suspends Community Mining Scheme - Cites similarities to illegal mining

The Community Mining Scheme (CMS) introduced by the previous administration was nothing different from illegal mining, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has stated.

The government has, therefore, suspended the scheme with the intention to reform it for operation by the middle of this year.

Speaking to journalists in Accra last Monday, the Lands and Natural Resources Minister said a report on the CMS submitted to him indicated that for many of the schemes, the community, including the traditional rulers, did not know about the scheme before they started.

At a meeting with editors and senior journalists of selected media houses to give them an update, and to court their relentless support to put the spotlight on the fight to rid the environment of illegal mining operations. Mr Buah said the government would reform the space to change the form and its operationalisation.

At the meeting were the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Isaac Tandoh; a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Professor Jerry Samuel Yaw Kuma, who is the Technical Advisor to the Minister, and the Technical Director of Forestry at the ministry, Joseph Osiakwan.

Licences withheld

For now, all the licences for the CMS have been withheld because the report on them indicated that the scheme was akin to illegal small-scale mining, popularly known as galamsey; communities had not been part of the scheme, Mr Buah said.

He explained that the committee would review all the purported licences issued for small scale mining and CMS.

“We will create the Small-Scale Community Cooperative where the community itself, with the involvement of the chiefs, youth and other stakeholders, will organise themselves, obtain signatures and request to have the licences to engage in a cooperative mine”.

“They will register a company and open their own accounts.

The cooperatives must also set aside a percentage of the proceeds for community development.

When the regulators are satisfied, then the government will assist them with infrastructure to have the community cooperative small-scale mine,” Mr Buah stated.

The Lands and Natural Resources Minister explained that by the middle of the year, all the CMS would go through that review with the Licensing Review Committee and those that pass the test would be allowed and supported to operate.

Mr Buah also reiterated the changes in the small-scale mining licensing approval process which would now be bottom-up, with the recommendations starting from the District Security Councils (DISEC) expanded to include chiefs and other local stakeholders before the Minerals Commission would work on it.

He also touched on the deployment of technology, a shake-up of the police leadership in districts where illegal mining took place and making the fight unpolitical as politicians from all persuasions were being brought on board.

Commendation

Mr Buah commended the media for the continuous support in the fight against illegal mining.

“The media is a critical stakeholder in the fight to protect the water bodies, the land and the environment.

I thank you for the role you played in the past and your support for the sector and

I entreat you to continue to join us in this fight,” the Lands and Natural Resources Minister said.

Mr Buah recounted the enormity of the challenge, including the destruction of 288 forest reserves, 44 of which had been completely destroyed, and the attendant repercussions on the cleanliness of water bodies as well as the health implications.

He referred to the attack on a forest guard, explaining that while that forest had been reclaimed with the support of soldiers, which changed its code from red to amber, the guards were surprised by attempts by armed illegal miners to re-enter the forest.

The minister said the military was called in swiftly to contain the situation, adding that the government would support all frontliners in the fight to ensure that they did not lose interest or hope.

Personal commitment

Mr Buah made a personal commitment to fight illegal mining relentlessly without fear or favour, declaring: “If I can’t make myself the sacrificial lamb in this fight against galamsey then our country is finished”.