George Mireku Duker, Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources
A Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources responsible for mines, George Mireku Duker, has called for effective collaboration between his ministry and the media in the efforts to ensure effective regulation of the small-scale mining industry in the country.
The Deputy Minister made the call yesterday during a sensitisation workshop on small-scale mining for news editors in Accra.
He said despite the activities of illegal miners, licensed small-scale miners contribute significantly to Ghana’s economy, hence a cautious approach must be employed in addressing the challenges plaguing the sector.
He further disclosed that based on available statistics, small-scale mining contributes 40% to local gold produce in the country and employs over one million Ghanaians, which makes it key contributor to the country’s economic sector.
“There’s a link between small-scale mining, gold output, our national economy, our currency, our foreign exchange status and all of that, so when you’re dealing with small-scale mining, you have to deal with it tactfully. You don’t want a situation where you also roll out an enforcement regime that literally kills the sector completely, which will mean you’ll lose income which will jeopardize your economy,” he reiterated.
He further indicated that aside the myriad of benefits the small-scale mining industry, Ghana’s small-scale mining sector is considered one of the best in Africa with an enviable regulatory structure.
This, he noted, had compelled many countries to visit the country to learn and implement Ghana’s practices in their respective nations. “Zambia and Sudan have come to emulate from us and, currently, the South African High Commissioner is at the Ministry with the same purpose, to understudy Ghana’s small-scale mining sector,” he stated.
He noted that the fight against illegal mining is a herculean one, and called on the media to collaborate in efforts to effectively communicate the strides made by the government in protecting Ghana’s natural resources.
The Deputy Minister debunked all allegations levelled against him as being neck-deep in the galamsey menace. He categorically stated: “I have never been a miner, and I will never be. I have only studied and have a good knowledge of the subject matter and that should be on record”.
The Deputy Lands Minister also cited the gamut of measures government had put in place to curb the illegal mining menace, such as Operation Halt II, Community Mining Scheme (CMS), training and deployment of river guards, among others.
On the procurement of speed boats and training of river guards, he said, “we are not just doing a talk shop here, we are on the grounds and the whole mentality is to get our river bodies cleaned”.
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