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Mrs Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey (right) exchanging pleasantries with Mr Pedro Luis Despaigne Gonzalez, Cuban Ambassador to Ghana. Picture: EMMANUEL ASAMOAH ADDAI
Mrs Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey (right) exchanging pleasantries with Mr Pedro Luis Despaigne Gonzalez, Cuban Ambassador to Ghana. Picture: EMMANUEL ASAMOAH ADDAI

Fight against galamsey gets boost with development of project implementation plan

The campaign against illegal mining (galamsey) in the country has been given a major boost with the development of a project implementation manual.

The manual spells out the actions to be undertaken to deal with the challenge and transform illegal mining activities into vibrant medium-scale businesses in the long run.

Developed by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the manual has timelines, actions and costs and supports the Multilateral Mining Integrated Project (MMIP). 

The MMIP focuses on law enforcement, the deployment of technology, the involvement of communities, among other actions, in dealing with galamsey.

The Coordinator of the MMIP, Dr Isaac Karikari, made this known to diplomats at an interaction between the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration (MoFARI), Mrs Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, and diplomats of the Americas and Latin America in Accra.

Present at the meeting were a Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Ms Barbara Oteng-Gyasi, and the Director of State Protocol, Ambassador Hassan Ahmed.

Cooperation in fight

In a powerpoint presentation after a short documentary on the activities of illegal miners in the country, which was voiced over by a Chinese dirge, Dr Karikari emphasised the fact that the campaign to stop illegal mining had been taken on as a project by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.

He asked for the diplomats’ support in saving lives and the environment, as the activities of illegal miners polluted water bodies and the environment and posed a threat to lives.

Later in an interview, Dr Karikari said his presentation was in line with the ministry’s collaboration with other ministries to fight the challenge.

He said it had been estimated to cost the country about $521 million to deal with the challenge, for which reason it was important to let all partners understand the campaign and buy into the vision to redress the situation for strategic support. 

Perspectives

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mrs Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, in her remarks, announced the establishment of an Economic Investment Bureau at the ministry to facilitate trade and investment between Ghana and other countries “and give impetus to economic diplomacy”.

She conceded that trade between Ghana and countries of South America was relatively low, compared with Ghana’s trade with countries in North America.

“Significant trade and investment opportunities are yet to be harnessed for the mutual benefit of the countries,” she added.

Mrs Botchwey said the establishment of resident diplomatic missions by all four members of the Pacific Alliance, namely, Columbia, Chile, Mexico and Peru, would be the “necessary game changer in that direction”.

She said Ghana was recognised as the headquarters of the Latin American presence in the sub-region and she was sure that the Pacific Alliance would take the opportunity to reach out to ECOWAS. 

She assured the diplomats of the President’s commitment to deepen relationships for the mutual benefits of citizens.

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