Lands and natural resources Minister calls for strict adherence to mining regulations.

Hon. Samuel Abu Jinapor, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources has called on management of a newly commissioned Community Mining Scheme at Bongo-Soe to strictly adhere to all laid down rules and regulations of the Minerals Commission to avoid sanctions.

He said per the Community Mining laws, no foreigner was allowed to engage in activities of community mining, and warned that any foreigner caught in the activity, would serve a 25-year jail term.

The Minister advised management of the Scheme to practice concurrent reclamation and re-vegetation mining activities where the land was simultaneously reclaimed and re-vegetated as they mined.

“I don’t want the Community Mining to become a backdoor for ‘galamsay’ activities to destroy the environment and pollute the water bodies. If it happens, l will revoke the license and close down the company,” he warned.

The Minister said the Bongo-Soe Community Mining was the first of its kind in the Upper East Region, and second in the country after a similar one was commissioned in the Savannah Region.

Hon. Jinapor said gold was not only found in Southern Ghana, noting that huge precious minerals deposits were found in the Northern Ghana as well as in Burkina Faso.

The Upper East Region Minister, Hon Stephen Yakubu commended the efforts of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) government in the establishment of the Bongo-Soe Community Mining Scheme.

He said the Scheme had the potential to create direct and indirect job opportunities for the teeming youth in the Region.

Hon Yakubu used the occasion to appeal to the constituents to in turn reward the NPP by voting in the 2024 general elections for its Parliamentary Candidate to win the seat.

The colourful ceremony was graced by the Chiefs and people of the Bongo Traditional Area, stakeholders and members of the public.