The Lands Minister-designate Samuel Abu Jinapor has defended the decision by President Akufo-Addo to dissolve the Inter-ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM).

"The dissolution of the Committee really had nothing to do with failure.

"Government sets up committee for purposes of its first term and in the second term, they believed that they will use other means in resolving those issues," Mr Jinapor told Parliament's Appointments Committee on Wednesday.

His comment was in response to a question from the Tamale North MP, Alhassan Suhuyini, on why the decision was taken and if it was an admission of failure.

In March 2017, President Akufo-Addo inaugurated the newly created committee which was headed by the former Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng and tasked them to clamp down on illegal small-scale mining also known as galamsey.

But on Sunday, January 10, 2021, the President announced the dissolution of same despite reports of illegal mining activities on some water bodies and in forest reserves.

Earlier, the President in an address to the nation stated that a national dialogue with all stakeholders in mining will be held on the matter.

Again, sources in government had indicated that the fight against illegal mining was being moved from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation to the Lands and Natural Resources Ministry.

Many have since attributed the development to the various scandals associated with the Committee since its inauguration.

From corruption allegations levelled against some of its leaders as well as claims of missing excavators seized from illegal small scale miners, some members of the committe were also shown taken bribe in a video documentary filed by Anas Aremeyaw Anas.

Subsequently, the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners and the Concerned Small Scale Miners Association called for an audit into the activities of the IMCIM following its dissolution.

But clarifying the issue during his vetting, Mr. Jinapor who was a former Deputy Chief of Staff during the previous administration insists that despite all these challenges President Akufo-Addo has been exceptional when it comes to fighting illegal mining.

"The call by the President was apt, appropriate and I believe that it was on the back of the needless politicization of illegal small scale mining in our country where in many cases when a particular political party tries to make an attempt to resolve or sanitize the small scale mining industry, the opponent of the government depending on who is in opposition will very quickly find a way of scoring political points out of it.

"I believe it is in that spirit that the President felt that it is about time for us to depoliticize this sector of small-scale mining because it is indeed a national problem, so that we can have a broad base support .

"In all humility, I want to repeat and insist that the effort of President Akufo-Addo in his first term in dealing with illegal small-scale mining is unprecedented. I am not too sure if in the Fourth Republic there has ever been any government that has taken on this fight in the manner that he did. He ought to be commended and I think it was a courageous and bold step that he took and I don't see any failure about it," he emphasized.

Touching on deforestation and afforestation within the country, especially the forest areas, Mr. Jinapor said he will put in place an aggressive afforestation scheme.

According to him, this program will not only see to the planting of trees but the growth and survival of all the trees that will be planted.