Ex-President John Dramani Mahama has emphasised his commitment to deal decisively with the individuals or companies who engage in illegal mining activities, popularly referred to as “galamsey’.

During fellowship with the clergy in Accra on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, the Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, stated that if he is elected as President in the upcoming December 7 general polls, he will, first foremost, audit all mining concessions issued, through which he will know the beneficiary owners of the concessions.

“The first step will be to audit all mining concessions issued and identify beneficial owners of such concessions,” Mr. Mahama said.

According to John Dramani Mahama, concession owners who allowed illegal mining to be carried out ruthlessly within their concession will be severely dealt with as a way of controlling the menace caused by activities of illegal miners.

Mr. Mahama said, “small-scale mining is recognised by law and must be done in a manner that does not harm the environment.  We will audit all concessions issued and identify the beneficial owners of such concessions. Concession owners will be held responsible for illegal mining within their concession areas.”

He added that, the small-scale mining will be encouraged however, miners will be taught how to mine responsibly without destroying the forest and the water bodies.

“We will promote responsible mining but wage a ruthless war against illegal mining, Galamsey. This will involve an aggressive programme to reclaim our polluted water bodies, degraded lands and devastated forest reserves through a Tree for Life and Blue Water initiative,” he remarked.

To this end, the leader of the NDC maintains that new licenses issued to prospected miners will be halted as steps are taken to help restore the forest and the water bodies to their original state.

John Mahama said, “We shall ban the grant of new mining leases and activities in forest reserves and amend the Mineral and Mining Law to impose stiffer punishment on mining in water bodies.

Under my government, all officials will be prohibited from engaging in legal or illegal mining.”

“Small-scale miners will be compelled to undertake skills training in modern responsible methods and land reclamation techniques as a required component of their operations to minimise their adverse environmental impacts.

Through a consultative approach, I will improve the implementation of the Free SHS programme to enhance quality by providing a dedicated source of funding for the program, scrapping the double-track system, and decentralising the procurement of food, among other things,” he stressed.

Peacefmonline.com