Accra, Aug. 24, GNA - The Okyeman Council will not allow government to prospect and mine bauxite in forest reserves in the area within its jurisdiction, Osagyefo Amotia Ofori Panin, Okyehene, said on Saturday.

He said the history of mining operations in the country has so far shown that mining activities had done little or nothing at all in the eradication of poverty from areas where such operations have been taking place.

"We cherish our forest and will rather rehabilitate degraded areas than allow government to mine bauxite in it," Okyehene Amotia said. He was addressing members of the Ghana Institution of Surveyors who paid a courtesy call on him during a familiarisation tour of some forest reserves in the area.

The tour took members to the Atiwa Forest, where they had first hand experience about the level of degradation.

Osagyefo Amotia said unlike the past where mining generated big employment, people in mining areas have in recent time been confronted with joblessness due to the high level of mechanization of mining operations, which requires only few hands to man the machines.

The two billion-dollar bauxite project that government promises the Okyeman Council cannot in any way eradicate poverty form the area, he stressed.

He said, "People in mining areas are also noted to be suffer ring from a number of health problems, which the Okyeman Council will not risk for its people."

He added, "We do not have loans to give people to treat themselves of diseases that might come upon them due to mining activities. "All that we have is the forest with its natural resources and the best we can do is to protect and preserve it for our own use and that of our children yet to be born," Osagyefo said. He urged the Surveyors to continue to protect the land and advised landowners on the need to conserve their lands irrespective of where one finds his or herself in so far as it was still within the boundaries of Ghana.

Mr. Julius Krampah, President of the Institution pledged that members would continue to work with honesty and dedication to ensure that land use in Ghana followed laid down procedures. 24 Aug. 03