The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. John Peter Amewu, has hinted that a five-year project, estimated at a cost of US$200 million, will be rolled out to sanitise the small scale mining landscape.
He dropped the hint on the floor of Parliament, when he was responding to a question on a number of ‘galamsey’ (illegal mining) sites across the country that have so far been closed down.. The Member of Parliament for Wassa East, Hon. Isaac Adjei Mensah, asked the question.
The Minister said a long term plan is being worked on and a co-ordinated project, the Multilateral Mining Integrated Project (MMIP) has been developed, taken through validation, and is being fine-tuned to enable the Ministry secure the requisite financial and other resources to start its implementation.
He revealed that unlike the short term measures which focus on reducing the activity, the long term approach is more holistic and incorporates developing alternative livelihoods, and other social engagement methods.
The Minister also briefed the House that the MMIP combines a ‘Legislation Enforcement, Civil Integrated and Technological Approach (LECITA)’ as a sustainable and structured concept, which will encompass multi-stakeholders in dealing with the galamsey menace.
He added that a complete restructuring of the Minerals Commission is taking place, to ensure sustainability in the management of the mineral resources of the country.
