MP for Atwima Nwabiagya North and also Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Benito Owusu Bio has stated that Companies involved in land reclamation should stop.
“Reclamation in the forest, no one is supposed to do it’, he said.
In an interview on ABN Ghana, he explained it is as a result of the outlines the government is set to release to lift the ban on small-scale mining.
The deputy minister was ‘emphatic’ and also said if anyone sees someone doing reclamation in the forest, the person can make a report to Operation Vanguard as they have all been informed to stop and wait for the lifting of the ban.
District mining officers, according to him, will be given motorbikes and cooperate with forestry mining commission to inspect the forest to make sure the right thing has been done.
BAN ON SMALL-SCALE MINING
Since last year, the government placed a ban on small-scale mining as some people were involved in illegal mining which was affecting our waterbodies.
The government indicated it will last for a few months but it was extended as the government felt the right measures were not in place.
LIFTING OF THE BAN
This week, the President, Nana Addo indicated his government will soon remove the ban they have placed on small-scale mining.
The miners after the announcement have expressed their joy and have even suspended a planned demonstration which they were to embark on.
