Accra, July 18, GNA - Mr Boniface Saddique, outgoing Minister of Manpower, Youth and Employment, on Wednesday called for a controlled legalization of "galamsey" (illegal mining), to engage the youth in meaningful employment.

He said the level of unemployment among the youth in most mining towns was alarming hence the call for the legalisation of "galamsey" to reduce poverty and social vices in the system.

Speaking at the 9th quadrennial delegates' conference of the Ghana Mineworkers Union of TUC in Accra on the theme: "Rethinking Mining Investment and Sustainability in Ghana", Mr Saddique tasked the industry not to exploit the communities but to develop them as part of their social responsibility.

He said government acknowledged the role the sector played in the development of the country and called on mineworkers, trade unions and mining operators to work together in strengthening and sustaining the industry.

The Minister said his outfit was concerned with the current wage negotiations impasse between the Ghana Mineworkers Union and their managements and urged the unions to cooperate with their firms and the relevant government agencies to find appropriate solutions to the problems.

"My Ministry will strengthen its collaboration with the appropriate ministries to ensure that the expatriate quota system for the industry is judiciously used to bring in foreign nationals with the requisite value addition skills," he added.

Mr Kwasi Adu-Amankwah, Secretary General of the Ghana Trades Union Congress, said of all the Foreign Direct Investments, the country had not brought forth any impressive benefits between 1986 and 1999. He said contributing to the union would improve the quality of discussion at the various levels.

The Secretary General urged the various components of the union to accommodate, learn and above all complement each other in strengthening the Union to enable it to serve members and the communities.