According to Ghana News Agency:amboi Constituency, disclosed this development during an interview in Wa on the sidelines of the inauguration and swearing-in of the Upper West Regional Lands Commission Board.
The Deputy Minister emphasized that President John Dramani Mahama's administration has declared a firm stance against mining on river bodies and in forested areas, implementing stringent measures to safeguard these resources. He announced plans to employ local residents through the Blue Water Initiative to alert authorities about any destructive activities on the water body, allowing law enforcement agencies to take appropriate action.
The initiative is set to begin in the Upper West Region and extend through the Savanna Region, encompassing all communities along the Black Volta River. Illegal mining activities on the Black Volta River, particularly along the Wa West District, have sparked significant concern among Ghanaians, as the river serves as a vital water source for numerous communities, including Wa.
Recently, Mr. Peter Lanchene Toobu, the Member of Parliament for the Wa West Constituency, conducted a tour of communities along the river to assess the extent of damage caused by illegal mining. Additionally, the Upper West Regional Police Command arrested seven individuals for mining on the Black Volta River at Kyeatanga, a community near Dorimon in the Wa West District.
Alhaji Sulemana also addressed illegal mining on dry land, proposing an approach to organize offenders into cooperatives and provide training and support for responsible medium-scale mining. This initiative aims to ensure land reclamation post-mining activities, with the government offering technological and financial assistance to help miners accurately identify gold deposits.
