President Akufo-Addo rallies Ghanaians to tackle galamsey head on

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said illegalities in the extractive sector, including illegal mining ( galamsey) must be tackled head on. “This is a collective responsibility. Government has its role but government’s efforts will come to nought if we all fail to do our part in this exercise,” he stated.

President Akufo-Addo said this when he opened a two-day Natural Resources Stakeholders Dialogue in Accra on Thursday, May 11, 2023.

The programme, being organised by the Graphic Communications Group Limited in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources is on the theme, “Harnessing Our Natural Resources Responsibly for Our Sustainable Collective Good”.

He said the harnessing of natural resources for sustainable development must not lead to the destruction of the natural environment. He said mining contracts must address issues of environmental protection.

Collective
President Akufo-Addo emphasized that sustainable exploitation of natural resources has the potential to transform the country and the continent at large.

He announced that through the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation, established in 2018, the government is working to ensure value addition to bauxite resources through refining, smelting, aluminium production as well as production of other downstream aluminium products.

Large-scale mining companies
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, said the government, through the Ghana Chamber of Mines and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is working to ensure that large-scale mining companies in the country are listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange.

He explained that this is part of the government’s efforts to ensure a viable, sustainable, effective, efficient and environmentally-sound natural resources sector that generates employment and contributes meaningfully to the development of the country.

He said the management of natural resources is not just about protection and exploitation but also more importantly about sustainability, environmental protection, mitigating climate crisis, and ensuring optimal benefit for the owners of those resources.