The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, says the Ghana Armed Forces should be held responsible for either the success or the failure of the fight against galamsey.
According to him, whereas his Ministry is involved with formulating the legal framework and policies that guide the activities of miners in the country, the military is responsible for the implementation of same.
This, he says, implies that the Military is supposed to act independently in policing the activities of miners in the country and preventing illegal miners from taking control of mining communities and concessions.
He made these comments on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen on Thursday, October 13.
“This time around it’s been made abundantly clear, we, and for that matter myself as the Minister and Ministry and other stakeholders, are responsible for formulating the policies relating to mining, which is actually what it should be.
“But when it comes to the implementation of the enforcement regime or the enforcement mechanism by the Ghana Armed Forces, they are supposed to do so independent of the Ministry and of any other entity; Chiefs, religious leaders, influential people, journalists, Members of Parliament, Ministers of State, political leaders.
“Military people are not supposed to take any instruction from anybody. I’ve never done that anyway, even in the past, but I’m saying no interference whatsoever,” he said.
He revealed that the Military has since been furnished with the full list of all licensed small scale mining concessions and would be effecting the arrest of all those who do not appear on the list but are engaged in mining activities.
“And actually what we’ve done is that my Ministry has furnished them with the full list of all licensed small scale mining concessions and that’s what they’re going to work with. So if they go and they find out that you’re not part of the list they’re supposed to clamp you down and nobody is to interfere.
“And the good thing about it is that the military now will be accountable and responsible for the law enforcement results for this particular effort and of this particular phase. So if it doesn’t go well they have to be held responsible.
“Because we have provided them with what they need and the framework, and the contours of the policy so they are now to implement it on the instructions of the President,” he said.
Latest Stories
-
Samsung’s AI-powered innovations honored by Consumer Technology Association
18 mins -
Fugitive Zambian MP arrested in Zimbabwe – minister
36 mins -
Town council in Canada at standstill over refusal to take King’s oath
47 mins -
Trump picks Pam Bondi as attorney general after Matt Gaetz withdraws
59 mins -
Providing quality seeds to farmers is first step towards achieving food security in Ghana
1 hour -
Gary Gensler to leave role as SEC chairman
2 hours -
Contraceptive pills recalled in South Africa after mix-up
2 hours -
Patient sues Algerian author over claims he used her in novel
2 hours -
Kenya’s president cancels major deals with Adani Group
2 hours -
COP29: Africa urged to invest in youth to lead fight against climate change
2 hours -
How Kenya’s evangelical president has fallen out with churches
2 hours -
‘Restoring forests or ravaging Ghana’s green heritage?’ – Coalition questions Akufo-Addo’s COP 29 claims
3 hours -
Ensuring peaceful elections: A call for justice and fairness in Ghana
4 hours -
Inside South Africa’s ‘ruthless’ gang-controlled gold mines
4 hours -
Give direct access to Global Health Fund – Civil Society calls allocations
4 hours