Former President John Dramani Mahama has pledged to ensure that small-scale mining is done responsibly and without harming the environment.
Speaking to the clergy in Accra, Mahama emphasized, “Small-scale mining is recognised by law and must be done in a manner that does not harm the environment.”
To achieve this, Mahama plans to audit all mining concessions and identify the beneficial owners, holding them accountable for any illegal mining within their areas. He vows to promote responsible mining while waging a “ruthless war” against illegal mining, also known as galamsey.
This he said , will involve reclaiming polluted water bodies, degraded lands, and devastated forest reserves through the “Tree for Life and Blue Water” initiative.
Mahama also promised to ban new mining leases in forest reserves and amend the Mineral and Mining Law to impose stricter penalties on mining in water bodies. Additionally, officials will be prohibited from engaging in mining, and small-scale miners will undergo training in modern, responsible methods and land reclamation techniques.
In education, Mahama aims to improve the Free SHS program through stakeholder engagement, providing dedicated funding, scrapping the double-track system, and decentralizing food procurement.
He also plans to include private secondary schools in the Free SHS program, leveraging their infrastructure and resources.
