General News of Monday, 20 November 2017

Source: mynewsgh.com

Inusah Fuseini ‘fights’ Amewu over extension of ‘galamsey’ ban

Former Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Inusah Fuseini Former Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Inusah Fuseini

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Tamale Central, Hon. Innusah Fusieni has said, the current government is wrong to extend the ban on small-scale mining activities in the country by another three months.

“It is mind-boggling that government has extended the ban by another three months”, the immediate past Minister of Lands and Natural Resources bemoaned.

According to him, initially it was a laudable idea the Akufo-Addo government placed a ban on illegal mining operations considering how the environment and water bodies had been destroyed but stated that the extension on the ban is not what had been agreed on.

“Now I cannot fathom decision of the Akufo-Addo’s government….is the government seeking to collapse small scale mining businesses in the country”, the NDC lawmaker quizzed spoke on Kumasi-based Abusua FM.

Hon. Innusah Fusieni also diffused claims that Parliament of Ghana has not approved concession for small-scale mining therefore illegal for people to engage in such business.

Meanwhile, the leadership of Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners (GNASSM) has described the current government as a confused one taking into account the manner it is treating the association since its assumption of office.

Ashanti Regional chairman of the GNASSM, Mr. Frank Osei is wondering why the government keeps shifting the goal post on the definite date it would lift the ban on mining activities in the country as part of measures in weeding out the galamsey menace.