The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor has assured that the over 220,000 jobs to be created from National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Programme (NAELP) have not be reserved for members of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).

According to the Minister, the processes will be fair to ensure all miners in some five regions targeted by government to end "galamsey" have a shot at obtaining jobs within the small-scale mining industry.

The said five are the Western, Western North, Central, Ashanti and Eastern regions.

Speaking on JoyNews' PM Express, he questioned why such assertions should be upheld by Ghanaians who have observed government tackle the issue of illegal mining popularly known as galamsey without fear and favour.

"Why must anyone think so? The people in Western North are not all NPPs. We are targeting Western North, Central, Western, Eastern, Ashanti regions. Those regions are not populated by NPP people alone. We are targeting Ghanaians. It has never crossed my mind anyway.

"It is not possible that the President will superintend over a national programme with tax payers money targeted at just NPP people. It is not targeted at any political party. It is targeted at miners in the country," he told host, Evans Mensah on Tuesday.

However, Mr Abu Jinapor who is also the Member of Parliament for Damongo Constituency was quick to add that: "But in the process, if NPP members get employed, why not? If NDC people get employed why not?

If people who are not partisan or don't affiliate themselves with any political party get employed, why not?"

President Akufo-Addo on Monday, October 25, launched the National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Programme (NAELP).

This is an initiative aimed to serve as an alternative for illegal miners who lost their source of livelihoods as a result of efforts to sanitise the small-scale mining industry.

The NAELP is also intended to mitigate the unavoidable hardships that have arisen as a result of the government’s efforts to clamp down on ‘galamsey’ operators, as well as provide good economic livelihood options to persons who engaged in illegal mining and its associated activities.

It will thus enable those adversely impacted, the opportunity to work and support themselves and their families.

Furthermore, the programme will focus on reversing the negative impact of illegal mining on the environment through the National Land Reclamation and Reafforestation component of the programme.