You're to ensure sanity of the mining industry, not to be extortionists - Minister to taskforce

The Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Honourable George Mireku Duker has urged a newly inaugurated task force to perform their duties up to the task, and never compromise in their line of duty.

The minister who officially inaugurated a 40 member task force for Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners(GNASSM) revealed that the duty of the task force was to see to it that water bodies like Birim, Offin, Oda and Tano river are protected from been destroyed by the illegal miners.

The government, as part of its measures to curb the menace of illegal activities in the mining industry, charged miners to go back on their site but mine responsibly. 

Therefore this new rapid-response task force is launched to complement the work of others so that sanity is ensured.

The group which according to the minister, had been equipped with the necessary logistics, gone through military drills etc is expected to ensure that the cleanliness of river bodies is improved. 

Deputy minister for lands and natural resources, Hon George Mireku Duker who officially inaugurated the Taskforce at the Kumasi Miklin Hotel said the duty of the group would complement another task force to combat the operation of galamsey in the country.

The Minister as part of the inauguration engaged some miners from various districts and regions to discuss emerging issues in the sector after the ban was lifted.

He said, as part of the best practices to mine sustainably and responsibly, miners were not supposed to use chamffan machines on the river, dredge close to the river, process and discharge wastewater into the river and mine the various forest reserves.

He also added that the law, which prohibits foreign nationals from engaging in small scale mining was still expected to be accorded.

He expressed sadness at the current state of the Birim River and asked indigenes to report people who engaged in mining in the river to the appropriate quarters so that recalcitrants are dealt with.

The honourable minister finally urged the 40 members special task force to work hard to make sure there's sanity in the mining industry.  He cautioned the special task force to make sure they do not turn into extortionists since there's no time to tolerate such nonsense in their operations.

The National Vice President of the GNASSM, Mr Sampson Kofi Wiredu also appealed to the communities and members of the Association to support the team to ensure they stop illegal activities on the Birim, Offin, Oda, and Tano  Rivers so that its sterility is restored.

Mr Wiredu said the Association members would comply with the rules of mining and give the necessary support to the Taskforce to succeed.

He however pledged that members were going to cooperate with the government and new task force to make sure things are done right.

Nana Peprah, Ashanti Region