The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has updated its fight against illegal mining.
Minister Samuel Jinapor after holding a meeting of the Ministerial Coordinating Committee on illegal mining agreed on some measures.
River Bodies and Forest Reserves according to the Ministry continue to be Red Zones.
A statement issued by the Minister said no mining operation is permitted in or around any River Body in the country, and reconnaissance, prospecting and/or exploration activities continue to be banned in Forest Reserves, except in exceptional circumstances.
The Minister announced that Operation Halt II will ramp up its support for the various measures being implemented to clamp down on illegal mining.
“The enforcement efforts will be pursued relentlessly without regard to any political, social or economic standing of the persons involved. This will be done transparently and with the highest standards of integrity, candour, and utmost good faith.”
Aside from these measures, the Minister announced that any equipment used in connection with illegal mining, or any product derived from illegal mining operations will be seized and handed over to the Police by section 99(8) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) as amended by the Minerals and Mining Amendment Act, 2019 (Act 995).
The Ministry also indicated that in the case where the equipment cannot be moved, it would be demobilised and/or decommissioned to prevent them from being used for illegal mining.
The Ghana Police would also be working with Operation Halt II to gather evidence to help with the prosecution of persons involved with illegal mining and the confiscation and forfeiture of seized equipment to the State.
Meanwhile, the Ministry has announced that it will intensify education on the dire consequences of illegal mining on the lives and livelihoods of current and future generations as well as the environment that supports our existence.
It further admonished the general public, particularly the media, as well as the chiefs and people of the communities where these illegal operations take place to assist the government and the security service in the fight against illegal mining.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana