Minister-designate for Youth Development, George Opare Addo, has reiterated the importance of addressing poverty as a fundamental step toward ending illegal mining practices in Ghana.

Speaking during his vetting on Wednesday, January 22, he shared his vision for a sustainable and environmentally friendly mining industry.

Opare Addo highlighted plans to collaborate with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to promote sustainable mining methods emphasised that addressing poverty in mining communities is critical to curbing illegal activities.

“I have maintained that wherever there is gold and there is poverty, people will find a way of getting under the ground to find the gold. We must eradicate poverty from the areas we find ourselves, and if we can do that effectively by giving them alternative livelihoods, we may bring an end to illegal mining,” he said.

The minister-designate underscored the importance of creating alternative income-generating opportunities for communities in mining areas.

He believes this approach will reduce dependence on illegal mining while fostering sustainable development.

“There is a Ghana we all want. I want a Ghana where illegal mining is not a part of it, but we do mining in a manner that is sustainable and won’t degrade the environment in any way. I believe that is also the vision of John Dramani Mahama,” Opare Addo stated.

The minister-designate stressed the need to reorient young people involved in mining, urging a shift away from harmful and illegal practices.

“For young people who want to go into mining, we have to reset their minds. There is an old way that they have done things, and we must re-engage them to change from that old way,” he noted.