Managers of Community mining have been cautioned against the destruction of cocoa farms for mining activities.
Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources in charge of mining, George Mireku Duker speaking at the inauguration of the Afransie Community Mining Scheme in the Wassa Amenfi East District explained that the concept of community mining is to empower local communities, create job opportunities, and control the destruction of the environment by illegal miners.
He mentioned artisanal and small-scale mining including community mining to create 1Thousand job opportunities and must be embraced by all.
Mr Duker cautioned against mining in cocoa farms and the environment, adding that license of the scheme will be revoked if they flaunt the law.
He said, ” I am in full support of the initiative to start small-scale mining here in Afransie, I am told that this will enable at least 1 thousand people to get employed but we have to do well to protect our water bodies while we mine. Community mining and small-scale mining alone employ about 1 million people and as such I’m not in support of any idea to end small-scale mining.”
Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko Mensah emphasized the essence of gold to Ghana’s economy and encouraged mining companies to increase their output, benefiting the entire nation.
” I’m so much pleased that we will be able to mine gold here in Afransie. We earn half of our foreign exchange, particularly dollars from gold and so literally gold is wealth. The likes of Johannesburg and other countries have changed their fortunes because of gold mining. If we take things seriously, it will really help us.”
