President of the Concerned Small Scale Miners Association, Michael Kwadwo Peprah has advised the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources to reconsider the duration given to individuals and companies engaged in prospecting activities in forest reserves to evacuate their equipment.
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor suspended the reconnaissance and prospecting in forest reserves and subsequently gave persons and companies involved seven days to cease operations and evacuate their equipment.
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Reacting to this news, Michael explained to Samuel Eshun on the Happy Morning Show: “If I was the minister or part of the decision makers, I would have said the duration given them to take out their stuff was too short.
You have suspended them and given them one week to take out their equipment. But for some, one week will not be enough for them to take their things out. Secondly some who take out their equipment may not return to the forest so what then do we do about the pits that have been created in the forest. These are questions we need to ponder over. In my small wisdom, I would have said the minister should have given them 3 weeks to 1 month and inform them about what we are going to do and for that matter anyone who has engaged in prospective in the forest would have known his results, they would have covered any pit they dug and if they diverted any water, they make sure that they put it at the right channel”.
Michael Peprah noted that while small scale miners are not affected by the directive by the Minister, he believes that a little more time for those affected will help rid persons illegally mining in the forest reserves.
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The Minister of Lands and Natural Directive issued the directive to cease all reconnaissance and prospecting activities in the forest reserves after a recent call by all stakeholders at a two-day National Consultative Dialogue on Small Scale Mining by government to rigidly apply sanctions on all those who break the law on small scale mining.
By: Alberta Dorcas N D Armah