The President of the Concerned Small Scale Miners Association, Michael Kwadwo Peprah has educated Ghanaians on what the law says regarding mining in forest reserves.
According to him, there is no law that bars anyone from mining in forest reserves provided they have the permit to do so.
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Speaking to Samuel Eshun on the Happy Morning Show, he explained: “In this country, no laws frowns on mining in forest reserves and that is what we should all understand. The law allows that if someone discovers a forest and the Forestry Commission clarifies that the person’s work does not destroy water and land and for that matter the person can find a way of working without destroying the ecosystem of the forest, that person is allowed to mine in the forest reserves. This must, however, be preceded by an entry permit from the Forestry Commission. If you take the right procedure and you get the approval, you can legally mine in the forest. The same way people are able to fell trees in the forest, the same way people can take license to work in the forest”.
His comments come after the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor suspended the reconnaissance and prospecting in forest reserves and subsequently gave persons and companies involved seven days to cease operations and evacuate their equipment.
Michael revealed that while small scale miners are not banned by the Minister’s directive, they support the decision of the Minister. However, he has advised Samuel Abu Jinapor to extend the duration of seven days for evacuation to about three weeks to one month.
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The Minister of Lands and Natural Directive issued the directive to cease all reconnaissance and prospecting activities in the forest reserves after a recent call by all stakeholders at a two-day National Consultative Dialogue on Small Scale Mining by government to rigidly apply sanctions on all those who break the law on small scale mining.
By: Alberta Dorcas N D Armah