Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, has said small-scale mining produced 712,405 ounces of gold last year, earning Ghana almost US$1.2 billion in export receipts.
He said Ghana produced 82,251.99 carats of diamond from small-scale mining in 2022, generating US$3.9 million in revenue.
The minister made the statement at the opening of a two-day transformational dialogue on artisanal and small-scale mining dubbed, “Sustaining environmental security and human rights in small scale mining operations in Ghana” at Fiapre in the Sunyani West Municipality.
The programme, initiated by the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), was aimed at bringing stakeholders together to brainstorm on ideas.
It was attended by politicians, traditional leaders, students and staff of UENR, artisans and small-scale miners, civil society actors, representatives of large-scale mining companies and the media.
Source of employment
Jinapor said the small-scale mining sector has been the source of employment for thousands of people and supported the lives and livelihoods of millions of citizens.
However, he emphasised that the increasing illegalities (galamsey) and the resultant environmental destruction associated with the sector remain a national challenge that requires collaborative effort to end the menace.
The minister said the government’s effort to clamp down on galamsey has been met with resistance because of the greedy and unscrupulous nation-wreckers destroying the environment for their personal interests.
He said the government, in addressing the threat of illegal mining, has introduced policies and measures under the National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Programme to provide alternative sources of income and livelihood to persons engaged in galamsey.
The programme has employed many young men and women in the production of seedlings and reclamation of degraded mined lands in the Ashanti, Eastern and Western North Regions, the minister stated.
He said the apprenticeship, skills training and entrepreneurship module of the programme is expected to be rolled out later this year to provide training for 5,000 youth in agriculture, technical, vocational, industrial and mining skills.
Jinapor commended the UENR for introducing several novel programmes, including undergraduate and graduate programmes in Sustainable Mining, Land Degradation Neutrality and Sustainable Land Management aimed at promoting sustainable mining and environmental protection.
The effort needs an all-hands-on-deck approach to promote sustainable practices in resource extraction and transform mined lands into viable lands for agricultural purposes, he said.
The minister called for intensified education on responsible and sustainable mining practices.
Asaase Radio 99.5 broadcasts on radio via 99.5 in Accra, 98.5 in Kumasi, 99.7 in Tamale, 100.3 in Cape Coast and on our affiliates Bawku FM 101.5 in Bawku, Beats FM 99.9 in Bimbilla, Somua FM 89.9 in Gushegu, Stone City 90.7 in Ho, Mining City 89.5 in Tarkwa and Wale FM 106.9 in Walewale
Tune in or log on to broadcasts online: www.asaaseradio.com, Sound Garden and TuneIn
Follow us on Twitter: @asaaseradio995
Live streaming: facebook.com/asaaseradio99.5. Also on YouTube: Asaase Radio Official.
Join the conversation. Call: 020 000 9951 or 059 415 7777. Or WhatsApp: 020 000 0995.
#AsaaseRadio
#TheVoiceofOurLand
#SafeMotorway4All
