Government has announced an extension of the ban on all forms of small scale mining in the country by three months.
The Lands and Natural resources, John Peter Amewu, who made the announcement today, Friday, said the ban is expected to be lifted by January 2018.
“There is an extension for three months. Well the association has been informed. The people we are dealing with are aware. The ban has been extended. This was supposed to end somewhere in October,” he added.
The government earlier in 2017 imposed a six-month ban on small-scale mining as part of efforts to end illegal mining and its related activities which adversely affected the environment.
The sector minister, John Peter Amewu, during a tour of some reclamation projects in Kyebi in the Eastern Region said government has set up a committee to monitor development in the sector before the Government’s five-year Multilateral Mining Integrated Project (MMIP) would be implemented.
“Just yesterday cabinet has given approval for the multi sectorial mining integrated project. But as you may know there is an adhoc committee in place that is doing some exercise. Immediately the committee finishes its work we will roll out the MMP project. I’m expecting it to commence maybe in February because we expect the ban to continue for the next three months.
And when the ban is finally lifted then the MMIP will be rolled on which will be more sustainable approach,” he added.
Government had earlier in August tasked a joint military and police task-force to enforce the ban on illegal mining.
So far the team has been able to arrest over 60 people who are facing prosecution in different parts of the country.
Source:GNA
