Information gathered by Talks Africa Media from the Presidency, suggests that Nana Akufo-Addo has launched three Community Mining Schemes at Egila/Gwira, Akango/Duale and Aboso, in the Evalue-Gwira and Tarkwa Nsuaem constituencies, respectively as one of his 2-day working visit of the Western Region.

Addressing the gathering, President Akufo-Addo explained that the Community Mining Scheme is an initiative meant to encourage responsible small-scale mining, in line with the Minerals and Mining Law, 2015, Act 703, in communities across the country and are expected to create some two thousand (2,000) jobs at Egila/Gwira and Akamgo/Duale, with some ten thousand (10,000) jobs set to be created at Aboso.

Nana Akufo-Addo recounting the menace wreaked by galamsey across the country, prior to his assumption of office in January 2017, He indicated that the phenomenon led to the pollution of waters, the degradation of lands, the non-reclamation of degraded land, and the use of dangerous chemicals, such as mercury and cyanide, on the environment.

“I was of the view, a view shared happily by the majority of Ghanaians, that, if we allowed it to continue, we would be jeopardising both our present and our future. Our responsibility, to this end, was clear,” he said, adding that “one of the measures instituted by Government to deal with the menace of galamsey is the Community Mining Scheme.”

“We believe that participation by Ghanaians and or the host communities in mining will set us, as a nation, on the journey to boost the rural economy, help rural infrastructure development, and improve livelihoods, through shared wealth. More importantly, it will enable Ghanaians to develop the capacity to take over, eventually, the operations of the minerals sector.” The President reiterated.

Iddrisu Muftaw | Talksafrica.com