Talk without action won’t solve illegal mining challenges – Samuel Jinapor

Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor says without the execution of appropriate actions, the country’s fight against illegal mining will be fruitless.

Speaking to JoyNews’ Samson Lardy Anyenini, Saturday, the Minister stated that “talk without actions will not resolve anything. I am not too sure we can be talking about an end or eradication knowing the nature of this industry. I think it will be a bit over-ambitious to suggest a thing that you can eradicate and also knowing that everywhere in the world there is a problem with illegality”.

He, therefore, entreated all and sundry to rally behind the government, indicating that a united front is the best shot the country has in addressing the menace.

“But I should conclude by emphasing that, it will not take the efforts of the President alone, it will not take the efforts of the sector ministry, it will not take the effort of government, it will take the collective effort of the nation,” he added.

His comment comes on the heels of Ghana’s unending battle against illegal mining activities popularly known as ‘galamsey’.

According to the Damongo MP, Ghana isn’t the only country fighting against illegal mining in the world adding that “it is a big issue in Canada. It’s a big issue in Australia but there are places where [it has been] managed to reachable level”.

Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo in his recent State of the Nation address called for an open and non-partisan approach in nipping illegal mining in the bud.

Also, an Environmental Scientist at the Institute of Environment and Sanitation Studies (IESS) at the University of Ghana, Professor Chris Gordon has hinted that illegal mining activities in the country have escalated to semi-industrial and industrial scale.

According to him, “illegal mining that is taking place is no longer small scale” because of the use of mechanized equipment during the extraction of Ghana’s mineral resources.