Galamsey: Do not burn equipment, demobilise and inventorise them - Alan Kyerematen
Accra, Ghana - Presidential candidate Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen has launched a comprehensive 10-point plan to combat illegal mining, or galamsey, in Ghana.
Addressing the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) on October 1, 2024, Kyerematen criticized the current government's approach as "ineffective and nonsensical."
Kyerematen's plan includes:
1. Systematic demobilization of mining machinery with military involvement
2. One-year nationwide ban on small-scale and community mining
3. Proper regulation and inventorying of equipment
4. Environmental restoration and reforestation
5. Alternative livelihood programs for affected communities
He strongly disagrees with the government's approach to combating illegal mining, specifically the practice of seizing and burning excavators, labeling it as "ineffective and nonsensical."
He believes that this method doesn't provide a long-term solution to the problem. Instead, Kyerematen proposes a more strategic and sustainable approach by involving the military in demobilizing mining machinery.
“Demobilisation of all machinery and equipment that are currently used in small-scale and community mining. Under the supervision of the military, if you demobilise equipment, you need to do three things- first, you need to keep them under inventory, two, you need to have them properly stored and three, you preserve them,'' he stated.
“This practice of burning equipment doesn’t make any sense. And that is why the GRP is proposing that you demobilise, and inventorise them so that you know what you have. Otherwise, after one year, they will be out of use,'' he added.
Source: Lead News Online
