Prez Akufo Addo launches alternative Employment and Livelihood Program for Illegal Miners

President Akufo Addo has launched National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Program (NAELP) for illegal miners as part of the government initiative to promote the responsible way of mining in the country.

According to H.E the president Nana Addo Dankwaah Akufo Addo, his government is not against small scale mining since it provides an avenue for Ghanaians to participate in Ghana's mining industry and contributes substantially to Ghana's gold exports but against the illegality of mining in the country.

President Akufo Addo continued that, the National Alternative Employment and Livelihood program (NAELP) is designed to alleviate the hardship of those affected to sanitise the mining industry.

This is because the country's natural resources are meant to be exploited and "we are committed to it judicious use for the socio-economic development of our country, that is the reason why the small scale gold mining law 1989 (PNDCL 218) was passed to curb the menace of illegal small scale mining."

President Akufo Addo said this when delivering his speech at the launching of the National Alternative Employment and Livelihood program (NAELP) for miners at the University of Minnes and Technology in Tarkwa of the Western Region.

In addition, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon Samuel Abu Jinapor said his ministry disagrees with the conventional wisdom assert that illegal small scale mining (Galamsey) is a poisonous chalice.

Due to that, the Ministry of Land and natural resources has declared all our water bodies and forests reserves as red zones for mining and also designated all the various security councils as the main vehicle for the enforcement of the mining laws.

Finally, the Western Regional Minister,  Hon Kwabena Okyere Daako Mensah also appreciated the president effort of sanitizing the mining industry to get rid of the illegal ways of mining.

He continued that, the Western Region is happy to have the National Alternative Employment and Livelihood program for illegal miners.

Oppong Kyekyeku, Western Region