The President Nana Adoo Dankwa Akufo Addo has commended the Ghanaian media for leading the campaign against illegal mining popularly referred to as galamsey.
“I want to acknowledge with special thanks, the support and role being played by the media in this fight against galamsey,” Akufo-Addo said in his address today at the May Day celebrations today (May 1) in Accra.
He added that the media with the overwhelming support of all well-meaning citizens have given true meaning to the call for all to be good citizens and not spectators.
According to Akufo-Addo, government’s fight against galamsey is not an attempt to deny people of jobs but a quest to hold in trust a safe environment for future generations.
He stated: “And then there is galamsey… the subject of the moment. I have not yet met anyone who is engaged with galamsey, who is satisfied with the degradation of our lands and our environment that currently comes with galamsey.
“We are not fighting to put people out of work by seeking to end galamsey. Since the almighty blessed us with precious minerals there will be mining in our country.
“But this present generation does not own the earth, we hold the lands in trust for generations yet unborn and we cannot destroy it”.
He also disclosed that government developing a new system which would ensure that small-scale mining would be done in a safe manner.
“We are arranging for small-scale mining to be conducted in a sustainable manner. All the indications are that the galamseyers, those who undertake the hazardous and tedious work do not make much money as they are brutally cheated from getting a fair price for the gold they find.
“We are therefore encouraging the establishment of gold refineries which will pay fair prices to the miners. The sustainable small scale mining we envisage will protect our environment and protect the workers as well”.
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