The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon Samuel Abu Jinapor has cautioned Management of the newly commissioned Community Mining Scheme (CMS) at Bongo-Soe, in the Bongo District of the Upper East Region against the involvement of foreigners in its activities.
He said the rules and regulations on mining in the country frowned against the involvement of foreigners, and threatened that the Ministry would revoke the Scheme’s licence if it engaged foreigners.
Addressing the Chiefs and people of the Bongo Traditional Area at the launch of the CMS, Hon Jinapor said any foreigner involved in small-scale mining activities, was subject to 25 years imprisonment.
“So Burkinabés are not supposed to be part of this, Malians are not supposed to be part, Nigeriens are not supposed to be part. The people who are supposed to be part of this Community Mining Scheme are the young men and women of Bongo, first of all, before we even go to Southern Ghana.
“This is why we call it a Community Mining Scheme, it must be community based, and if owners of this Community Mining Scheme do not adhere to these regulations, I will not hesitate, I will swiftly revoke their license and close the Community Mining Scheme down,” he said.
He further warned that the CMS in the area, which was the first of its kind in the Region, should not be used as backdoor for illegal mining activities, popularly known as ‘galamsay.’
“I will insist they adhere to all the protocols we have laid down for the operations of Community Mining Scheme,” he added.
The Paramount Chief of the Bongo Traditional Area, Naba Baba Salifu Atamale Alemyarum, said he was grateful to God for blessing the land with gold to alleviate the people from poverty, and advised residents to abide by the mining regulations.
Gaspard Ayuureneeya