The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, says illegal mining cannot be eliminated.
The minister’s comment comes days after his yet-to-be-deputy, George Mireku Duker, stated that there was nothing wrong with mining the country’s forest reserves.
Appearing before the Appointments Committee of Parliament earlier this month, Duker argued that no law prevents mining in the forests.
He added that the law even allowed for mining in some selected forest reserves.
On his part, the substantive minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor said although the government is doing all it can to curb the illegal mining menace, he doubts it can be totally dealt with.
Answering questions at a Public Accounts Committee hearing on th 2017 Auditor General’s report of MDAs, Jinapor, who’s also the MP for Damongo, said:
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“We have not eradicated illegal small-scale mining; in fact, I am not sure that we can eradicate illegal small-scale mining.” He said the efforts being made by the Akufo-Addo administration was not an event.
“It is a process; we cannot eradicate or get to a satisfactory situation in respect of illegal small-scale mining overnight,” he insisted as reported by Starrfm.com.gh.
Source: GhanaArticles.com