A new licensing system is being introduced by the government to control the importation of excavators in an effort to stop their usage in illicit mining operations that have wreaked havoc on Ghana’s environment.
At the June 2 Global Mining Summit in Kumasi, President John Dramani Mahama announced the decision, pointing out that one of the main causes of the Galamsey situation is Ghana’s existing excavators, which are greater than all of Africa combined.
He stated that seven of the nine protected forest areas that were previously overrun by illegal miners have now been cleaned, adding that “controlling the flow and use of excavators is critical to sanitizing the mining sector.”
Better monitoring and enforcement will be possible under the new regulation, which requires importers to obtain government authorization before bringing excavators into the nation.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene, also demanded more accountability and stronger leadership in order to address the corruption and regulatory shortcomings that still impede anti-galamsey initiatives.
Another measure to preserve Ghana’s remaining green areas is the submission of a legal instrument to Parliament that would do away with the president’s discretion in granting mining permits in forest reserves.
Source: newsthemegh.com