Mfante community mining scheme to create 2000 jobs, says Mireku Duker 

The newly-established Community Mining Scheme (CMS) at Mfante in the Ahafo Ano North Municipality of the Ashanti Region will create 2000 direct jobs.

George Mireku Duker, the deputy minister of lands, in charge of mining said that the scheme will positively affect economic activities in the community and municipality.

He made the revelation during a ceremony to inaugurate a Community Mining Scheme in Mfante on Tuesday 14 December 2021.

He re-echoed the government’s position that the CMS guarantees more benefits to the community than galamsey.

The MP for Tarkwa-Nsuaem said that the scheme employs a safer method of harvesting gold as it does not resort to the destructive element of mercury.

Applauding Akufo-Addo and Jinapor

He applauded the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and Samuel A. Jinapor for the initiative and explained that like all the CMSs set ups, experts will be deployed to ensure that the measures stipulated in the act that regulates small-scale mining are duly followed.

Mireku-Duker appealed to the traditional leaders and community to support the government’s fight against galamsey.

“The CMS is an initiative of the government to ensure safety mining methods so as to prevent the destruction of our environment. The CMS is a good way of mining gold so that our resources will be protected. We have established CMS schemes in mining communities. You all should be happy because this type of mining has been approved by government. We’ll make sure that all the safety protocols are followed and it feels with happiness to see that a first aid centre has been opened.

“I have seen an office that will ensure proper administration. We’ll assign a geologist to this firm to inspect and ensure that everything done is in accordance with the law. This Community Mining Scheme will employ at least 2000 persons. Akufo-Addo is not against mining. In fact, he loves mining but he is against activities that destroy our environment,” he said.

The MCE of Ahafo Ano North District, Martina Appiah Nyantekyi described it as a welcoming development for the municipality and warned against illegal mining.

She stressed that the scheme could lead to a turnaround in the economic fortunes of the community hence requires the support of persons and institutions within the municipality.

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