Collins Dauda, Lands and Natural Resources Minister
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Alhaji Collins Dauda, has decried the activities of illegal mining operators, popularly known as galamsey operators, and cautioned community leaders to desist from allocating lands to such miners.
He insists that the ministry would not hesitate to arraign offenders before the law court when they are caught.
According to Mr Dauda, Act 703 of the Minerals Law debars any chief or opinion leader from issuing out lands for mining activity unless prior approval is given by government.
“I want to state categorically that all stakeholders including sponsors, chiefs, and land owner’s and farmers found granting rights to anyone to mine commit an offence and would be dealt with decisively.
…The Minerals Act is quiet clear on such matters, as I said earlier it is only the minister who can give out permits to any individual or a company to prospect for gold so chiefs and farmers who think that they can breach our laws and go scot-free must be careful”, Mr Dauda warned.
The minister said this during a media briefing to state how the ministry plans to clamp down on galamsey activities in the country.
The ministry’s caution comes in the wake of lives which were lost recently as a result of the operations of some galamseyers at Akyempim near Dunkwa in the Central Region.
He disclosed that the ministry will provide funds to facilitate the movement of a task force, which he noted, comprises the military and police, ostensibly to clamp down on activities of illegal miners nationwide.
He added that the task force will employ on a number of measures to flush out illegal miners at Subinso near Tepa in the Ahafo Ano North District including Krokosoa forest reserve in Juaboso.
“I would appeal to all stakeholders to provide useful information to the security agencies on the activities of these galamsey operators for the necessary action to be taken”, the minister noted.
STORY: ANTHONY KWESI COOMSON
