Minister Dares NDC For Small-Scale Mining Sector Debate
Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resource, George Mireku Duker, has dared the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and its flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, for a debate in the small-scale mining sector.
Mr Duker, who highlighted the achievements of the sector, is convinced the current transformation of the industry through policies implemented under the Akufo-Addo administration, is not only unprecedented, but novel and can win any debate.
“What we have done is novel, our colleagues in the NDC, could not even dream of it”, he jabbed as he dared for a debate.
Touching on some of the initiatives the government had implemented since assuming office in 2017, the deputy minister, listed a good number of reforms and enforcements which contributed significantly to the growth of the sector.
On reforms, Mr Duker, said the opening of online application system for the registration of concessions, retooling of the Minerals Commission, especially the Inspectorate Division with vehicles, setting up of Minerals Development Unit at the banks for small scale miners to access loan for their operations, among others.
He also mentioned the famous Community Mining Scheme policy, establishment of the Minerals Development Fund, retooling of the Ghana Geological Survey Authority, which is responsible for the recently found iron ore and bauxite in commercial quantities, creation of the National Alternative and Livelihood Empowerment Programme (NALEP).
On the enforcement area, the deputy minister, said the government through the Lands Ministry, has procured speed boats for the Ghana Navy to patrol the water bodies and ensure river bodies are excluded from illegal mining activities.
There is also the purchase of some 100 mercury free machines aimed at ensuring responsible small-scale mining, the reduction of three percent withholding tax on gold exported from small scale to 1.5 percent, the establishment of the Control Room, where all registered earthmoving machines are monitored and tracked.
Demand for Apology
Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister who is responsible for Mining, has called on the NDC flagbearer to render an unqualified apology to the people of Ghana for promising that, he will grant amnesty to illegal miners who have been jailed, if he wins the December election.
According to him, the comment by the former president, is retrogressive to the fight against illegal mining, which government is spending so much resources and time to curb.
“Leaders of this country, whether you have been a leader of this country, people take inspiration from your language to do good or bad things, so your language must be decorous. If you go and stand anywhere and legally a person that is punished by law and you counter it, saying I will give pardon and that they were jailed wrongly, it is wrong to say this as a leader, to speculate or say anything because of the power you are looking for.
So that statement former President Mahama made that, as for him he will free convicts if he wins power, he must apologize. He has to apologize, because that comment hurts me. That as government is working to stop illegal mining from water bodies, lands and you say as for me, when I come back, I will grant them amnesty, it is wrong”, he said.
He added, “Where the person says as for me if I come, I will allow them to do it, it makes it so difficult to implement the good ideas you have. Because as you are preaching against it, then he goes behind you to undo what you have done. That is where my worry is. But for time, I would have asked that you show the videos, where he says if he becomes president, anyone that has been convicted of galamsey, would be freed.
So, it means what the government is doing by arresting those who are into galamsey, to serve as a deterrent, is of no consequence. Because you are encouraging even as a former president. It is very difficult, because those comments don’t help in the development”.
Speaking in an interview, Mr Duker, said the comment by the former president, has the tendency to embolden these unscrupulous people to do worst, because there will be nothing to deter them.
He cautioned leaders to refrain from such pronouncements, because they have a greater responsibility to season their words, in order not to inflame a problem that is being resolved.
He said, it is awful for leaders like the former president to speak in that manner for political expediency.
“It emboldens those people who are determined to destroy the environment. People even did videos and circulated them, saying they will embark on illegal mining, because of his unfortunate comment”, he said on Accra-based Adom FM’s ‘Dwaso Nsem’ programme.
In the run up to the 2020 election, Mr Mahama, was heard in videos telling people in the Western Region that, in the event that he wins that election, he will pardon the youth who are languishing in jail for their involvement in galamsey.
According to Mr Mahama, those convicts have learned useful lesson from their mistake and he is sure they will not go back to indulge in that illegality again.
He also argued that the kingpins who finance these illegal miners are walking freely, while these unemployed youth are being punished for the sins of these so-called kingpins.
Mr Mahama, did not end there, at his recently held ‘Mahama Conversations’ with journalists at the Kempinski Gold Coast hotel in Accra, the former president, reechoed his position to free these people convicts. When asked if he still stands by his view, Mr Mahama, responded in the affirmative, saying “My answer is yes. Because those who are imprison are not the actual perpetuates of galamsey”.
Mr Duker, who has been on a media tour to educate Ghanaians about the gains made so far since the government started the fight against illegal mining, also highlighted the challenges and the future of the sector under vice president Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, if the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is able to win the December election.
Source: Anchorghana.com
