Accra: Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah has outlined a comprehensive strategy to address challenges in Ghana's mining and timber industries during his appearance before the Appointments Committee. Central to his plan is combating illegal mining, which he described as a fundamental threat to the nation's survival. Buah emphasized the need for a bipartisan approach to tackle illegal mining and promised to target those orchestrating these activities from the shadows.
According to Ghana News Agency, Buah intends to implement a holistic review of the mining licensing regime and stressed the importance of adding value to green minerals. He warned that companies unwilling to add value should leave the minerals in the ground. Buah also highlighted the need to build trust between large-scale mining companies and host communities, ensuring mutual respect and benefits.
Buah assured the committee of his commitment to protecting State and Public lands, insisting that any sales should not short-change the people. He announced plans for a paradigm shift in managing new minerals to maximize benefits for Ghana. Additionally, Buah pledged to restore biodiversity, combat illegal mining in water bodies, and train water guards to protect the nation's resources.
Under Buah's proposed leadership, the government aims to engage communities in transparent mining practices and ensure value for money in any necessary land sales. He promised no new mining activities in forest reserves and plans to review L.I 2462 to enforce this decision. Buah disclosed that the government will re-categorize small-scale mining for better monitoring and supervision, addressing the involvement of three million individuals in illegal mining across 12 regions.
To restore Ghana's degraded bio-ecology, Buah outlined three government interventions: Blue Water, Tree for Life, and Restore Ghana initiatives. These efforts aim to harness forest resources sustainably and rehabilitate the country's ecological systems.
