The Paramount Chief of Gwira Traditional Area in Nzema East Municipality of the Western Region, Awulae Angama Tu-agyan, has passionately appealed to the government to decentralise the issuance of mining licences in the country.
He said companies or individuals applying for mining licences in the country, must be made to go down to the communities where they intend to mine to have direct relationship with the affected communities through purposeful, and comprehensive agreements.
“Acquisition of a mining license to mine is difficult for owners of mining concessions, while outsiders come with a license from Accra to do exploration at the eyeing side of mining communities”, he lamented.
Speaking to the Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson, on why decentralisation of the licensing regime will help regulate the country’s mining regime, he said it stems from the fact that mining communities are currently oblivious of the processes involved in the acquisition of appropriate certifications, documentations and all licensing required to mine.
Awulae Angama Tu-agyan observed that one of the reasons why successive governments have not been able to tackle illegal mining activities in the country hinges on the aforementioned.
“The communities own the resources, but they cannot get the required documents to grant them access to the resources, and outsiders come with documents to mine in these concessions”.
Consequently, he said the issue of licensing, once tackled properly, will go a long way to solving the problem of illegal mining and make it possible to domesticate the mining industry through local partnerships and participation.
The threats being received by locals from existing mining companies against their wishes, he underscored, could be resolved once the communities also secure their share of the resources with legitimate licenses to mine legally.
In the Gwira area alone, he revealed that currently there are serious issues in court against two of the chiefs in the area for over two years now, due to their disagreement with these companies invading mining communities.
Explaining the current impasse between Okoben Mines and the traditional area, he accused the company of being engaged in illegal activities.
“We have engaged the Minerals Commission on his prospectus license and discovered that the company doesn’t have any license to prospect or explore any mine in our area”.
In response to all the challenges mentioned, the Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson, explained that the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) doesn’t offer lands, licences or leases for mining activities, and therefore will refer the proposals to the appropriate Ministry.
He said whenever the traditional area encounters any issue with any mining firm, the best approach is for them to report to the appropriate institutions for redress.
“The fight against illegal mining activities, for instance, has no political colours. The damage being caused by illegal mining is unquantifiable. I can tell you that Gwira is dominating in the illegal mining activities.
It is disturbing, because the River Ankobra passes there. The constant colour of the water is a testament. It is something we must all fight together. Our agriculture, food, health and safety are all at risk.”
The Minister added, “The Chinese invasion of mining areas is usually led by Ghanaians. You cannot do that in China. The fight is huge, but we must all support. No chief should come forward to the front for any illegal miner when arrested. We are wild, we will continue to pursue the illegal miners until they stop.”
Once they don’t stop, we will go after them,” he warned illegal miners.
As the Regional Minister, you will agree with me that we must win the war against illegal mining. We will support Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, to win the war. Our cocoa sector is currently under attack and being destroyed”.
“We are in danger”, as the ongoing illegal mining activities are becoming a travesty of justice.
He said the water Ghana consumes currently could be contaminated with undetected chemicals in virtually all treated water sources because of illegal mining.
“Therefore, I call on you, the Chiefs, to join the campaign against illegal mining. I will not listen to any chief who will beg for any illegal miner when they are arrested”.
On regulations and the licensing regime, Joseph Nelson noted that the government will implement innovative policies to streamline mining in the country.
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