President Mahama is urged by Catholic bishops to proclaim a state of emergency in Galamsey.
President John Mahama has been urged by the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference to impose a targeted state of emergency in the galamsey, or areas most severely impacted by illegal mining.
The conference’s president, Most Rev. Matthew Gyamfi, made a number of compelling suggestions during a tour of the Jubilee House to assist address the mounting concern of environmental damage brought on by illicit mining operations.
“Your Excellency, we propose the following and we are ready to back you up in all ways to arrest this menace,” he stated as he introduced the idea. First, the permissive legal instruments should be repealed.
“Audit and repeal legislative instruments enabling unchecked licensing under the Minerals and Mining Act 2006 (Act 703) and associated legislative instruments,” he added. Put an immediate stop to new small-scale and artisanal mining licenses and impose a ban on existing ones until the environmental and social impact has been thoroughly examined.
The Most Rev. Gyamfi went on to urge prompt action, saying, “We think a targeted state of emergency should be implemented. Declare a limited state of emergency, Your Excellency, to temporarily halt all mining operations in all impacted areas. Use military engineering teams to help in reclamation.
President Mahama responded by telling the Bishops that his administration is already acting decisively to stop the problem.
“In order to stop additional environmental damage, we have driven illegal miners out of the nation’s forest reserves and confiscated their equipment,” he stated.
The President also emphasised the Ghana Gold Board’s responsibility, stating that it is responsible for more than only purchasing and exporting gold.
“If you read the law, one of the Gold Board’s duties is to work with compliant small-scale miners and provide them with the technology and support they need to mine sustainably,” he said.
“One of the things that Reverend Gyamfi raised in his presentation was the issue of a reclamation bond,” President Mahama said, welcoming a significant land reclamation proposal from the Bishops. We don’t charge small-scale mining firms a reclamation bond. For the large corporations, we do it.
But it’s time for the small-scale mining community to receive a reclamation bond.
“Some of the revenue they get from the gold is put into that bond,” he said, outlining the bond’s operation. They get their money back if they finish and take back the land. If they don’t, we’ll use that money to hire contractors to come and take care of the reclamation.
The President disclosed that “16% of our forest reserves have been destroyed and encroached upon,” indicating the extent of the harm already done. Plans are in motion to finance the restoration of impacted areas through the carbon credit system, he noted.
President Mahama addressed the economy in addition to the problem of illicit mining, claiming that his administration has implemented specific measures to help down the growing cost of living.
