Posted 12th September 2024
INAUGURATION OF MERETWESO COMMUNITY MINING SCHEME-UDEMA
The chief and people of Meretweso a community in the Upper Denkyira East Municipal Assembly on Thursday, 12th September 2024 held a short ceremony in honor of Hon. George Mireku Duker-Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and his entourage for the Inauguration of Meretweso Community Mining Scheme at Meretweso.
Dr. Nana Untobomtwe III-Meretwesohene, Denkyira Ankobeahene and Chairman for the occasion expressed his appreciations and gratitude of his people and the honor given him to chair the occasion. He accepted it and asked for the support of everyone for its success.
In his welcome address, the Municipal Chief Executive-Hon. Ebenezer Forson Appiah welcomed everyone specially the miners. He disclosed that his welcome was very special and unique. He indicated that the edifice we are seeing special and we have never seen it in the Municipality.
He added that it was the vision of the President of the Republic His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his Vice President Dr. Alahaji Mahamudu Bawumia to help those who are into mining especially artisanal miners to become small scale miners by bringing program/project to help them acquire the skills and knowledge in the work they are doing and do it in the right way.
He noted that the Community Mining Project was the 1st that was been inaugurated in the Municipality to be precise at Meretweso that has brought glory to the people and Meretweso as a community. He emphasized that the project was the 1st of it kind which was coming to open the doors of many others in the mining industry in the Municipality.
Hon. Ebenezer Forson Appiah also disclosed that the people in the Municipality are into farming or mining and mining contribute about 60% of the local economy of the Municipality. He also indicated that the Municipality was the 1st to start alluvial mining in Ghana with a company called Dunkwa Gold Fields Company (DREG Compound). He also added that for that purpose if there is any mining project ongoing in Ghana, there is the need for the Municipality to get it shares.
He expressed his appreciations and that of the good people of the Municipality to the President of the Republic His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, his Vice President Dr. Alahaji Mahamudu Bawumia, the Lands and Natural Resources Minister and the leadership of the Minerals Commission for remembering the Municipality.
He also noted that the purpose and the goal at the end is that all those who are interested, desire or want to do mining the right way will use the Community Mining Scheme for responsible mining so that no one will use illegal means of doing mining for the Municipality to have a bad reputation. He also emphasized that monitoring will be taken to concession sites to make sure that approval from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Minerals Commission for them to do mining responsibly are observed.
Hon. Ebenezer Forson Appiah again disclosed that as a people, we do not want to reach a point where as a country or district when people are talking about illegal mining, the Municipality is not among because we are using the right or responsible way to do mining. He again indicated that the mining concept aside the approval given, people will use the right way to work whereby people working without reclaiming the lands and destroying the water bodies will be a thing of the past.
He again added that the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has shown that there are areas that has been declared red zones and these red zones no one is allowed to mined there. He again noted that these red zones are water or mining about 100 meters away to a river body or forest reserve.
He again emphasized that the youth in the Municipality should take the opportunity of the Community Mining Project for all to do mining in the right way and responsibly because there is a scheme that they have to follow which is the Community Mining Scheme where all regulations are there to follow when at the end, no illegal activity will be allowed.
On behalf of the Central Regional Minister-Hon. Justina Marygold Assan, the Municipal Chief Executive- Hon. Ebenezer Forson Appiah disclosed that she wished all people well especially miners in the Municipality. He indicated that she appeals to everyone to use the right way to do his/her mining activity and do mining responsibly so that river bodies and forest reserves are not destroyed and at the end, the environment will be saved. She added that mining aside adding to the economic growth also brings job but if care is not taken, it will bring destruction so if the people are mining, they should use the right way to do their activity.
Mr. Amstrong Jedu-Member Small-Scale Miners Upper Denkyira East expressed his gratitude to the President of the Republic His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his government for remembering the Municipality to have it shares of the national cake of Community Mining Project for those who are doing it to do it responsibly without blameless.
He disclosed that everyone galamseyers, no. They have Small Scale Miners who do mining responsibly and the right way and have all the documentations required. He indicated that the government uses the way everyone has accepted for mining that is why they have been given the license to operate as Small-Scale Mining. He added that there are some people the work they do there is no documents attached. They are called illegal miners (Galamsey).
He noted that Small-Scale Miners are not illegal miners as people perceived. He emphasized that people are calling for the ban of Small-Scale Mining. Small-Scale Mining is mining responsibly and mining in the right way. So, they disagree with them and they will not allow the government to put a ban on Small-Scale Mining.
Mr. Amstrong Jedu again disclosed that Small-Scale Mining is backed by law that is why they have documents attached to their work. He again indicated that people in Small-Scale Mining reclaimed the lands after their work is done. They do not destroy water bodies and their work is not done in water bodies. He again added that their work is 100 meters away from water bodies so as not to pollute waters. He appealed to the Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources George Mireku Duker to give Small-Scale Miners the power to help the Assembly together with MUSEC and DISEC all over the country so that they can help to track all those who are doing illegal mining.
He again added that if the power is given to them, Dunkwa-On-Offin Small-Scale Miners can do and have done it before and knows how to do to clear all illegal miners on the water bodies for the government to see that they mean business. He again noted that government bringing the soldiers to fight illegal miners was good but they (Small-Scale Miners) live with them (illegal miners) in the community and the soldiers, they come and they go. They (Small-Scale Miners) will track them (illegal miners) one after the other on the water bodies for the country to have its peace.
Mr. Dawson-Head Minerals Commission Upper Denkyira East disclosed that for his outfit what is important is responsible and sustainable mining. He indicated that mining should not take place 100 meters away from water bodies. He added that mining should not take place along road sides. He noted that when mining activity is taking in an area, the safety protocols must be observed in order to avoid any accident. He emphasized that whiles mining activity is ongoing, reclamation of the land is important.
Mr. Dawson also disclosed that chemicals are not good in mining and one of them is mercury. He also indicated that before miners can use mercury, they have to get a permit from the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources. He also added that as miners as they are, they like short cut that is why the Minerals Commission as the regulators, every month, they do monitor to visit their works and activities. He also noted that miners have to get ready and listening to their advice since there are going to work with them.
In his speech, Hon. Dr. Festus Awuah Kwofie-Member of Parliament Upper Denkyira East disclosed that documentations for the project started long ago with the help of the Lands and Natural Resources Minister and his technical team, all were able to pass through. He acknowledged three (3) people who were tremendously involved in the completion of the project and they were: Nana Amon Kwablan Kwachie, Kwame and Mr. Akwesi Agyeman-CEO Ghana Tourism Board.
He indicated that the financing of the project was done by himself Hon. Dr. Festus Awuah Kwofie and Mr. Akwesi Agyeman with the support of the Municipal Chief Executive Hon. Ebenezer Forson Appiah and the Assembly. He expressed his appreciations to the chief of Ayanfuri and Meretwesohene for releasing a portion of their lands free of charge for the construction of the project.
He added that the project has beautified the community because when people reach there, they do not know if it is a hospital or a community centre. He noted that people do not know why the project should be used as a Small-Scale Mining or Community Mining. He emphasized that after the commission, it means that the law backs the Community Mining. Hon. Dr. Festus Awuah Kwofie also disclosed that base on the law, no one will be frightening those doing their work under the Community Mining Scheme and they will be at peace. He also indicated that Small-Scale Mining or Community Mining is not an illegal activity. They have their license that allow them to do their work likewise those who have license to cut trees and also catch fishes in seas the same thing they have their license given under the seal of the government.
He also added that if some says that because of illegal mining activities, there should be a ban on mining, it means that there will be a ban on more activities in Ghana because all works done in Ghana, there are some challenges but he never heard that a ban should be put on those works. He also noted that it is not the way we should go. We have to regulate it, put control measures in place to see that they are doing the right thing and nothing illegal and irresponsible is associated with their activities.
He also emphasized that miners should rest assured that if they are doing their work responsibly and the right way, the government is backing them because the law is there to support them so no one should be afraid. He urged miners to join the Small-Scale Mining or Community Mining Scheme to have their documents to do their work without problems.
In his brief address, Dr. Nana Untobomtwe III-Meretwesohene, Denkyira Ankobeahene and Chairman for the occasion expressed his gratitude to the President of the Republic His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his government through the Member of Parliament Hon. Dr. Festus Awuah Kwofie for the project. He disclosed that truly, when the news came that there will be a Community Mining in the community, the English was too big for their understanding. They taught it was another way for technocrats to take away their lands.
He indicated that when they sat down and went through, thus they realized that good things will come out of it and based on that, the land was given for free for the construction of the project. He added that when people are mentioning the name of his community, they do not mention it well and it is not their fault and he understand. He noted that Meretwe is the name of the water that passes through the community where they live on it.
He emphasized that Meretweso is a farming community and when the Member of Parliament Hon. Dr. Festus Awuah Kwofie called on him that he wants to bring the project to his community, he was pleased because it will bring more jobs. Dr. Nana Untobomtwe III also disclosed that the scheme will bring more people in the community so therefore he appealed to the Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Hon. George Mireku Duker to complete the CHPS compound as soon as possible and elevate it to the status of Health Centre because it is not all things that a CHPS compound can do.
He also indicated that if the CHPS compound is elevated to the status of Health Centre or Polyclinic, it can help reduce casualties in accident cases and any health-related issues that are high for first aid will come to save people’s life before it reached the hospital. He also added that, they the chiefs they will support any good work that the government is doing.
In his inaugural speech, Hon. George Mireku Duker-Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources welcomed everyone. He sent the greetings of His Excellency Dr. Alahaji Mahamudu Bawumia-Vice President of the Republic and the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources-Hon. Samuel Abu Jinapor. He expressed his appreciations and gratitude to the chief, his elders and his for their cooperation and understanding for the project to come to a reality.
He disclosed that most of the time, some of the people in the cities taught that some of the people in villages are illiterate or not knowledgeable. He indicated that most of them say words that are not good or bad against mining. He added that some of them say that the Community Mining is galamsey. He noted that if people say things like these, they have disrespected in the sense that the chiefs did not understand and put on their regalia and came to sit at the occasion.
He emphasized that God has blessed Dunkwa-On-Offin and its surrounding communities because it is not every community that has been blessed with gold. Hon. George Mireku Duker also disclosed that God has expressly done it because some have salt, some yam, some cola nuts and others sea where they get fishes. He also indicated that if someone opens a company and there is auditing and infraction appears, the solution is that the company is closed down. No.
He also added that, why is it that for mining if things are not going as expected people are calling that there should be a ban. He also noted that it is the responsibility of all of us to track down those who are destroying the environment and spoiling the water bodies all in the name of illegal mining and the fight should not be left on the government alone. He also emphasized that all water bodies in Ghana pass through communities, towns or villages before landing in the sea.
Hon. George Mireku Duker again disclosed that Pra and Offin are water bodies we know where they start and where they end. He again indicated that likewise all other water bodies pass through communities, towns or villages and if we all come together in one accord that illegal mining should stop along these water bodies, he believes within three (3) days all these water bodies will be clean again.
He again added that it is the responsibility of all Ghanaians to protect our water bodies and seek for responsible mining ta take place. He again noted that Organized Labour is calling for the ban on mining was misdirected. He again emphasized that the government is bringing River Guards to protect our water bodies to fight and clamp down illegal miners.
Hon. George Mireku Duker further disclosed that the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources is eager to put measures in place and good measures to help the mining sector and Small-Scale Mining only contribute not less than 8.4% to the country’s GDP. He further indicated that Mining Companies in Ghana have less than 10,000 workers but Small-Scale Mining sector employs 1,000,000 Ghanaians and 1 person cater for 4 people in a family.
He further added that we are talking about 5,000,000 Ghanaians directly and indirectly mining has impact on them and if a ban is put on mining, these people what work should they go and do. He called on all Ghanaians not to leave the fight on the government alone. He further noted that Organized Labour will embark on a strike, Ghanaians should stand-up and talk because it is their work and Small-Scale Miners rise and speak. He urged the people not to allow anyone to do mining in water bodies.
He further emphasized that anyone who do mining in water bodies is a bad person. He / She does not have Ghana at heart. He commended and acknowledged the Member of Parliament Hon. Dr. Festus Awuah Kwofie for his outstanding work for the development of his constituency. Hon. George Mireku Duker moreover disclosed that His Excellency the Vice President Dr. Alahaji Mahamudu Bawumia instructed them to come with a mercury free machine that will protect the environment so that when the gold is processing, it is mercury free.
He moreover indicated that the machine can process gold without the use of mercury and attract gold to about 90%. He moreover added that the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources is licensing all minable concessions to see that Ghanaians mined and mined responsibly. He then on behalf of His Excellency the President of the Republic Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, the Vice President Dr. Alahaji Mahamudu Bawumia, the Lands and Natural Resources Minister Hon. Samuel Abu Jinapor and on his behalf as Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources duly launched the Meretweso Community Mining Scheme.
The Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Hon. George Mireku Duker was assisted by Dr. Nana Untobomtwe III-Meretwesohene, Denkyira Ankobeahene and Chairman for the occasion, the Member of Parliament Hon. Dr. Festus Awuah Kwofie and the Municipal Chef Executive Hon. Ebenezer Forson Appiah to officially cut the tape to commission the Meretweso Community Mining Scheme.
Source:OBED ANNAN, PR. INF. ASST.UDEMA