Thapelo Phukubye: UMaT Announces Key Strategies to end Galamsey; Minister Inspects MDF Projects

Tuesday, April 27, 2021

UMaT Announces Key Strategies to end Galamsey; Minister Inspects MDF Projects

The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has inspected a number of building projects in Tarkwa.

The projects, situated at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), the projects are being funded by the Minerals Development Fund (MDF).

Mr. Jinapor inspected the projects on Tuesday morning, April 27, 2021, which was the second and final day of his two-day working tour of the Western Region.

He was accompanied by officials of UMaT, the Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Otchere-Darko Mensah, officials of Minerals Commission and the Ministry, was informed that one of the building projects was 80% complete.

The Minister seized the opportunity to enquire from the contractor whether or not MDF was indebted to them.

Prior to the inspection, the Lands and Natural Resources Minister held a brief meeting with officials UMaT to share President Nana Akufo-Addo’s vision for the mining sector with them and to also seek their collaboration in the fight against illegal mining popularly known as Galamsey.

Mr. Jinapor said UMaT was very important to the Government’s fight against Galamsey.

He indicated that the University is key, adding that “the collaboration exists between UMaT and Government.”

According to him, the ideas for sanitizing small scale mining ought to be generated from UMaT.

He said that the new law enforcement regime against Galamsey will have no regard for political colourisation.

Strategies

Meanwhile, UMaT has announced a number of strategies to help control or end illegal small scale mining popularly known as Galamsey.

Vice Chancellor of UMaT, Prof. Richard Kwasi Amankwah, announced the strategies when the University hosted the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources.

He said one of the strategies is dubbed: ‘Catch Them Young’.

Under ‘Catch Them Young’, he said UMaT intended to introduce a model mining program aimed at making sure that the next generation of small scale miners are taught at the young stage to do responsible mining. He said UMaT was seeking to role out this program in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.

According to him, the second Strategy is to institute a national sustainable small scale mining day to create awareness about small scale mining. He said the awareness day is to be celebrated on June 2 yearly.

He said the third strategy is to introduce a Small Scale Mining School with the aim of engaging small scale miners on site and teaching them to do the right thing.