In a second radio interview since his assumption of office, Upper East Regional Minister Dr. Hafiz Bin-Salih expressed the government’s decision to support licensed large-scale mining companies operating in the region to protect their concessions.
He warned against encroachment and illegal possession of portions of concessions that have already been leased to large-scale mining companies by the government through the Ministry of Land and Natural Resources and the Minerals Commission.
The Minister observed that the mining sector in the Upper East Region is an important trigger for the region to rise economically; hence, the need for efforts towards monitoring and supporting them to grow and develop the region through their Corporate Social Responsibilities.
“If a concession has been given to an individual or an agency, nobody has any business encroaching on that concession. What you can do if you are interested is also to apply to the Minerals Commission to grant you a license and get you a concession to mine,” Dr. Hafiz said on A1 Radio in Bolgatanga.
Dr. Hafiz identified illegal mining, otherwise known as galamsey, as a major challenge in the mining sector in the region, which could be addressed through stakeholder engagement and collaboration.
He noted that achieving sanity in the mining areas in the Talensi District will serve as a blueprint to be replicated in other areas that will, in the future, be hosting licensed mining companies.
“I believe strongly that if we allow these companies to operate freely and if we monitor their activities, I believe strongly that they will be able to change the economic face of the Upper East region,” he noted.
Illegal mining and underground intrusions remain the main challenges confronting the operations of Earl International Group Ghana Gold Ltd. Despite efforts to address the issue of unauthorized entry into the underground drives of the mine, the brazen actions of unauthorized persons continue to pose a significant danger to their lives and disrupt the company’s operations.
Source: PR Unit
