Mireku Duker
The deputy minister for lands and natural resources George Mireku Duker has charged district mining committees to ensure sustainable and responsible mining across the country.
The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources in charge of Mining has inaugurated district mining committees in mining areas across the country including Daboase, Ellembelle, Tarkwa and Prestea Hunney Valley.
He disclosed that the committees was set up primarily to fight illegal mining and also create an enabling environment for the growth and expansion of Ghanaian-owned mining companies in the districts.
He noted that the government deems mining to be a revenue-generating outlet for the country and wants the committees to be on the same page.
He added that government has an ambition of empowering Ghanaian investors in the mining sector to reach global status and that the Community Mining Scheme is the first step in attaining the objective.
Mireku Duker also said that the Ministry has procured 300 mercury-free machines for the Community Mining Schemes as part of its plans of ensuring that the environment suffers no harm from mining activities.
He mentioned that the Ministry will keep close tabs on the committee and urged them to submit periodic report to the Lands Commission.
“I will charge you to work assiduously to ensure that mining in this district becomes responsible, viable and sustainable. You must present period report to the Minerals Commission”.
Your mandate is not only to clampdown on illegal mining but also to create a viable concessions to create job for teeming youth. We must not see mining as an illegality. We must see mining as an entity where we can generate better revenue from it. We can create future out it.
“We must ensure that large scale miners have serene environment. It is your responsibility to ensure that large scale firms are protected,” he said.
The Deputy Minister tasked the committees to implement measures to solve gold-smuggling in the district. He said it is the responsibility of the committee members to ensure that all gold sales go through the Precious Minerals Marketing Company.
