Deputy minister for lands and natural resources Hon. Mireku Duker together with a joint committee from the chamber of mines and the ministry of lands and natural resources took a tour of the Takoradi Air Force base to inspect aircraft meant to help in the fight against illegal mining.
Hon. Mireku Duker after engagements with the Ghana Chamber of Mines and the Ghana Armed Forces on re-strategizing ways to clamp down illegal mining activities within licensed large-scale mining leases and by extension, illegal mining in general last week, saw the need to inspect the state of the Aircrafts meant to undertake the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance survey (IRS) activities.
Addressing the media during the inspection on Friday, January 20, 2023, the deputy minister said the purpose of the visit is to practically acquaint the Committee with the actual state of the aircraft which when repaired, and serviced, will go a long way to help achieve government’s agenda in that regard.
“Together with my Technical Team, I am very enthused with the update provided by the leadership of the Airforce Base on the three (3) DA-42 and One (1) Z-9 aircraft”, the minister said.
The Airforce estimates that an amount close to Seven-Hundred Thousand (€700,000) Euros will be expected to bring all the aircraft back to operation.
The Ministry is engaging the Chamber of Mines to take up the cost.
According to the Airforce, the Aircraft’s Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) estimated six (6) months to finish all works on the Aircraircraftd funding be available.
Hon. Duker added that the various stakeholders will get back to discussions to achieve this target and build a resilient mining sector together.
Illegal mining has over the years destroyed lands and water bodies and the government is keen on putting a stop to it.
