President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has reiterated that his government is not against Small-Scale Mining but rather is in full support of it.
He said, what his government is against is the illegal way of going about it.
H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo made this statement during the launch of the National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Programme, a programme designed to help alleviate the hardships of those affected by Government’s efforts to sanitise the mining industry.
According to him, his Government is in full support of responsible small-scale mining activities, as it provides an avenue for Ghanaians to participate in the mining industry.
“A comprehensive approach to tackling this canker, which demonstrates also our commitment to social solidarity and harmony, requires that, while working with the security agencies for the protection and proper utilisation of our natural resources, we fashion alternative means of livelihood for those affected by the crackdown,” he said.
H.E the President, added that as small-scale mining contributes up to 40% of the country’s gold exports, government will do all it takes to promote it for the collective benefit of Ghanaians.
He announced that his promise to implement Community Mining Scheme has been fufilled as he commissioned the Akoon Community Mining Scheme, the very first scheme under the (NAELP) programme.
He declared that the Akoon Mining Scheme is expected to create some Two Hundred and Twenty Thousand (220,000) direct and indirect employment.
The National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Programme (NAELP), he said, will mitigate the unavoidable hardships, which government’s efforts to sanitize the small-scale mining sector has created, particularly in the five (5) regions that Operation Halt carried out its operations.
“It is intended to provide good economic livelihood options to illegal mining and its associated activities, and to enable those adversely impacted the opportunity to work and support themselves and their families. The Programme will also focus on reversing the negative impact of illegal mining on the environment through the National Land Reclamation and Reafforestation component of the Programme,” President Akufo-Addo said.
