The first batch of unregistered and Small Scale miners in the Talensi District in the Upper East Region are scheduled to receive training on safe and proper mining practices at the University of Mines and Technology in Tarkwa.
The training forms part of a comprehensive policy framework agreed by the Inter-Ministerial Committee to regularize Small Scale Mining across the country. The District Chief Executive of Talensi, Dr. Christopher Boatbil says ten Small Scale Miners who form part of the first batch of Miners to be trained, will soon be going for the training at the University of Mines and Technology.
“We have received a message, directing us to inform those Miners we registered, to be trained in Tarkwa by the government. Currently the government has lifted the ban on Small Scale Mining that is those who have legally acquired their concessions and they have licenses. Any other person who does not have a license is not suppose to mine.
It is because of this that, government, led by His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo is forming what we called Community Mining Groups, so we have put 10 Miners together in a group to get to Tarkwa, the School of Mines and get some training.
Then they will now further put them into groups so that they get Legal Concession to mine. These processes and series of training will continue after this, the next batch will go and we will do that till all other persons who are desirous of going into mining legally and doing appropriately will have the chance in doing so.” He explained.
Hon. Boatbil has charged the miners selected for the training to serve as ambassadors to educate any person or group that might still be engaging in illegal mining.
According to him, the Assembly is embarking on education and sensitisation to get anyone doing illegal mining to stop, after which, such persons will be arrested and prosecuted.
“… please anyone interested in mining should kindly come to the Assembly and get registered.” He explained.
He said government has come up with these measures to sanitize the Mining Industry in the country to make it better.
“The reason why we are doing this is because the activities of illegal mining is destroying the environment and we are bent on protecting the environment for today’s generation and that of tomorrow. I will urge that, all the selected miners should make it a point to travel to Tarkwa for the training, remember, if they don’t get the training, they are not going to be given a concession to mine. So when it comes to that time, no one should blame me, because I think the government has given miners the opportunity to get things done in the right way.” He said
Meanwhile some unregistered miners says they are happy with the development and have assured their cooperation to ensure that, government’s vision of sanitizing the Mining Industry is achieved.
Source: a1radioonline.com | Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen | Ghana
