The Upper East Region is a resource rich country, with huge quantities of gold. Gold mined in the region is of premium quality. This is according to the Upper East Regional Minister, Stephen Yakubu.
Speaking at the Upper East Region’s State of the Region Report series at the Ministry of Information’s Press Centre, Mr. Yakubu explained that about half of the 15 Municipalities and Districts in the Upper East Region have gold deposits.
The Minister was however unable to quantify the worth of the gold deposits.
“The gold deposits, usually, the Minerals Commission would inform the region and also the areas where the gold deposits are. What I know is that we have 15 administrative areas [and] I think we have half of those administrative areas having gold deposits.”
“I would not be able to tell you the quantum of gold under there. What I know is that our gold is very rich because it is rock-based. That is the technical term they use,” he said.
On the issue of illegal mining that is detrimental to the environment, Mr. Yakubu explained that because of the depth miners have to go before they strike gold, it is difficult for illegal miners to operate. He added that it also serves as a means to protect the environment.
“In the Upper East Region, for the gold, you would have to go deep down and that is really helping us in terms of illegal mining,” he said.
Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1MHz|Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith|Ghana
