Ban all forms of mining for the next 10years – Bernard Mornah tells Gov’t

The former National Chairman of the Peoples National Convention (PNC), Bernard Mornah has asked government to as a matter of urgency placed a ban on all mining activities to protect the country from the consequences posed by the sector.

Speaking on TV3 NewDay on Wednesday, September 28 monitored by GhanaPlus.com, he said the ban should be on all forms of mining and not just small scale mining.

The ban, Mr Mornah added should be in force for ten years to enable the country conduct proper audit into the sector and its impact on the country.

“We should ban it, not just small scale. Let us put a moratorium on this for the next ten years. Ban mining completely”

According to him, it unacceptable for anybody to continue to mine in the face of the devastating effect the sector has cause the country’s water bodies and its arable lands.

The PNC stalwart was of the view, if mining will destroy the country’s food production, water bodies and its arable lands then it is best the gold are left beneath the ground adding that Ghana at the moment do not benefit anyway from same.

“It is Magnus RexDanquah who said we should stop mining of all forms including large scale for the next 10years and do a proper audit of our situation because if what is on the ground is killing us because we want to bring it out leave it there, we will survive,” he said.

“After all Ghana is no more a beneficiary of what is under, we have sold everything,” he added.

Every agreement that undermines or integrity is bogus- Mornah

Mr Mornah described as bogus any agreement that seeks to make inferior the sovereignty of the country and security of its people and mining firms  are not an exception.

“Why not! Look, there cannot be any agreement that undermines the integrity and sovereignty of your nation, the health of your people. If you have any agreement which say that people should pollute your environment and that your people should die, you should not have water to drink, you should not be able to produce food then that agreement is bogus” Mr Mornah said when asked about what happens to the country’s agreement with mining firms in the country”.

“Am saying that the international agreement that Libya established where they use to have less than 17 % of the oil ownership and Gadaffi came and went to International Tribunal and got over 77% of ownership ensuring that they are able to restore dignity to the Libyan people, we can do the same,” Mr Mornah said.

The vocal politican made the comment while reacting to a report by TV3 indicating that cocoa farmers in the Ashanti region are selling portions of their cocoa farms to miners.

Cocoa farmers sells portion of cocoa farms to illegal miners

In the report, a cocoa farmer identified as Akwesi Fordjor admitted selling portions of his farm to miners for some ₵300millon.

According to him, he had been in cocoa farming for over 20years yet could not boast of even a plot of land until he gave in to the galamsers.

“You see, this part of land I took over about 300million from it. Just two month I build my own two rooms…. but I work 20years without even a single plot, now, I have my own premises so I will ride myself on the gold more than cocoa,” Akwesi Fordjor said.

He vowed no one can stop him from cutting down his cocoa trees for mining adding that he is now in on mining since cocoa farming brought him nothing.

“Government can never stop galamsey in this Ghana at all at all.  I have the gold, I have plenty money in my pocket  so I don’t mind cocoa. Look am now cutting it off, you see, it my own bonafide property, nobody can stop me”

“To stop me from cutting my own cocoa tree? Did you plant it for me.planting for food and job, am I involved?,” he added.

Source: GhanaPlus.com