Ghana’s fight against galamsey might fail if government does not tighten lose ends in the current its efforts to end illegal mining sustainably, Mr Kwamena Essilfie Adjaye, an economist has warned.
He suggested a broadening of the fight to include the livelihood of the illegal miners, saying any attempt that does not embrace the enhancement of the economic well-being of the thousands in the illegal business will fail.
Speaking on ‘Late Edition’, 3FM’s Current Affairs Show, Mr Adjaye suggested that government provides alternative livelihood for the illegal small scale miners while ensuring that they not only get adequate income from their operations, but be able to secure foreign exchange for the development of their communities and the country at large.
He underscored the need for small scale mining to be modernised and left solely for Ghanaians.
Mr Adjaye was explaining a working paper, “The Employment, Income and Foreign Exchange Effects of Small-Scale Mining (Galamsey), prepared by the Ghana Growth and Development Platform .
He told the host of the show Alfred Ocansey that the current state of the mining industry indicates a clear failure of institutions charged with the task of ensuring a sustainable environment.
The GGDP, he noted, has reservations on government’s introduction of military personnel on the mines, saying it was a wrong move that could trigger unknown outcomes.
“We have to be careful how we approach this situation, especially with regard to dealing with the military in a non military zone,” Mr Adjaye said.
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