President dissolves Inter-Ministerial Mining Committee

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has dissolved the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM).

The committee, which was headed by the former Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Prof Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, was established to clamp down on illegal small mining, also known as galamsey. This was due to the havoc illegal small-scale mining was causing to the country’s water resources, forests and lands.

Reports say the President has also decided to move the fight against illegal mining from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation to the Lands and Natural Resources Ministry.

Dialogue

A national dialogue with all stakeholders in illegal mining is expected to be held, under the auspices of the President, to fashion out new means of fighting the menace.

Presenting his last State of the Nation Address, President Akufo-Addo called for a collective effort in the fight and the depoliticisation of discussions on galamsey.

This, according to him, will allow for a productive dialogue that will address the menace.

“We, who are leaders, owe it to the country to take the subject out of the party-political arena and have an honest conversation about this menace to our future,” the President said.