Government has indicated that it is working out alternative job avenues for the many youth engaged in galamsey activities in an attempt to halt the practice.

The Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Alhaji Inusah Fusani after the reading of the 2013 budget in Parliament on Tuesday told Citi News, these and other measures were being employed by government to ensure that illegal mining, which was threatening water bodies, were brought under control.

“We are going to commit resources to fund legal mining. What is agitating the mind of government is creating employment and jobs for the people.

He indicated that persons involved in illegal mining “may argue that they don’t have alternative jobs, there is no alternative livelihood programme and that is why they are there. That is why in the budget, you see the mention of the forest plantation project. That is intended to put more than 10,000 hectors of land under afforestation.”

Alhaji Fuseini described the budget as “forward looking," according to him, "it’s looking to see how the problem of galamsey will be solved.” He noted that although government was faced with the challenge of creating jobs, alternative job avenues will be created to end the galamsey business.