Koforidua (ER), July 1, GNA - Dr Kwasi Akyem Apea-Kubi, Eastern Regional Minister, has re-iterated the need for a review of Ghana's minin= g laws. He said this would guarantee the imposition of stiffer punishment on persons, who would engage in illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, t= o serve as a deterrent to others.

Dr Akyem Apea-Kubi made the call when he met with the leadership of Eastern Regional Peace Advisory Council (ERPAC), in Koforidua, on Thursday. The meeting was called at the instance of the ERPAC, to brief the Minister on plans to organise a three-day stakeholder's conference on illegal mining and lumbering in the Region, and to solicit the RCC's supp= ort and inputs for the event. Dr Akyem Apea-Kubi noted that the current laws regulating galamsey wer= e not deterrent enough and needed to be reviewed, to boost efforts in the fight against the menace. He said galamsey was devastating the environment and polluting water bodies in the Region at an alarming rate and promised that the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) would support the ERPAC and other bodies in the campaign against the illegal mining. Dr Akyem Apea-Kubi appealed to the people to support government's effort in the fight against galamsey.

He gave the assurance that the RCC would assist the ERPAC with logistics and funds to make the conference a success. Dr Joy Mante, chairman of the ERPAC, said the planning committee for the conference has presented a proposal and arrangements awaiting funding. He said stakeholders in the lumbering and mining industry, Ministers o= f State, Members of Parliament, chiefs and journalists would attend the conference as participants or resource persons. Dr Mante said the ERPAC would focus on chieftaincy disputes after the conference.