Minerals Devt Fund calls for collaboration to ensure best practices
The Minerals Development Fund (MDF) has called for collaboration from stakeholders to ensure compliance in the country’s mining sector.
In a statement issued and signed by the Administrator of the fund, Dr Hanna Louisa Bisiw-Kotei, she said enforcing compliance would help safeguard communities and prevent further tragedies recorded in mining areas.
"As the institution mandated to redress the negative impact of mining in communities and supporting the development and well-being of mining communities, the MDF remains resolute in its commitment to supporting land restoration and covering of abandoned mining pits.
"We are committed to collaborating with regulatory bodies and security agencies to ensure accountability in line with the Polluter Pays Principle (PPP); to promoting sustainable mining practices and responsible resource extraction,” it said.
The statement added that the fund would continue to play its role in expanding real alternative livelihood programmes to reduce reliance on illegal mining and also intensify community education on mining safety and environmental stewardship.
Accountability
The fund additionally called for the urgent enforcement of the PPP, a fundamental environmental and governance standard that requires individuals and entities responsible for environmental degradation to bear the costs of reclaiming and restoring lands.
The PPP, according to the fund, would promote sustainable mining practices, reduce reliance on illegal mining and intensify community education on mining safety and environmental stewardship.
"It is unacceptable for communities to continue to suffer loss of life and environmental destruction due to negligence and disregard for human safety," it added.
The statement said the fund would continue to engage relevant partners to ensure that affected mining communities received the necessary support to avoid future occurrences.
Condolences
The fund expressed its condolences to families who lost their relatives due to the effects of illegal mining over the past weekend.
The first incident, which occurred at Wassa Dunkwa in the Amenfi West Municipality, involved the heartbreaking loss of a 42-year-old woman and her three sons, who drowned in an abandoned illegal mining pit.
The second incident took place at Atta Ne Atta in the Asutifi South District, where a collapse of a mining pit resulted in the deaths of nine individuals, while others suffered injuries.
"On behalf of the board, management and staff of the MDF, I extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and the affected communities.
We share in your grief and stand in solidarity with you in this time of immense loss.
"These tragic occurrences once again highlight the grave dangers posed by illegal mining activities, particularly abandoned and unprotected pits that continue to threaten lives across our mining communities," it stated.
