Editorial
Suspension of illegal mining in forest reserves appropriate
The new Minister of Lands and Mineral Resources, Hon. Samuel Abu Jinapor, has indicated his preparedness to fight illegal mining in line with the vision of President Akufo-Addo.
Towards this end, he has gone round certain parts of the country to see the devastation carried out by illegal small-scale mining otherwise known as ‘galamsey’
So passionate is he that he is collaborating with various agencies to ensure that the battle is won.
One important step he has taken is the suspension of such activities in forest reserves.
The suspension has become necessary because of the abuse usually encountered in such forest reserves.
Prospective miners always apply for licences that enable them to undertake prospective exploration. Such a licence does not allow them to mine the resources.
They are only required to explore the area given them and find out the availability of precious minerals in the area.
It is when the exploration is done and their report made available to the authority concerned that they are given another licence to actually mine an area of mineral resources indicated to them.
Many of these mining organisations, upon receiving the licence for exploration, actually begin to mine the precious minerals in the reserves.
The Spectator views this as an abuse of the law which must not be entertained. The suspension of the activities in the forest reserves must, therefore, be enforced until some level of decency is arrived at.
The suspension must be closely monitored to find out whether it is being obeyed in line with the directive.
A system must also be put in place to ensure that, those monitoring the activities in the forest reserves are in turn closely monitored by others, so that the dishonest ones amongst them will be found out and punished.
The destruction of the environment by illegal mining is an eyesore and needs to be stopped immediately.
As Ghana joins more than 143 other countries to mark the World Environment Day today, the occasion should boost our awareness and action for the protection of the environment.
The young minister is determined to fight this canker and it is incumbent on well-meaning Ghanaians to help sanitise the sector.
This paper wishes him well in his crusade.
Dear Sir,
I wish to use this platform to congratulate all farmers in Ghana for their hard work and dedication to duty on the occasion of 2025 Farmers’ Day celebration.
Yesterday, in Ho in the Volta Region, Ghana marked the 41st edition of the celebration instituted by late former president, Jerry John Rawlings. It was marked under an excellent theme “Eat Ghana, Grow Ghana, Secure the future.” The aim was to promote local consumption, food security and the transformation of agriculture into a key driver of the economy.
The message it seeks to send out there is very loud and clear. That, every Ghanaian should strive to consume food produced locally. The work of our gallant farmers would amount to nothing if Ghanaians fail to consume what they toil morning, day and night to produce.
Farmers in Ghana are one group of people we must continue to celebrate and adore. They work so hard to ensure that food reaches every home in Ghana. And on such occasions, it is important to honour them like its done every year but one thing I wish to bring to the attention of government is that it is important to mechanically support the activities of these farmers and secondly, make the agric sector very attractive for the youth.
The youth have become so fixated on white-collar jobs which are currently non-existing. Government must therefore make the sector attractive enough for the youth to veer into the area.
Maxwell Quarshie,
Swedru
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Dear Editor,
MAY I please use your respected medium to commend the establishment of Parliament television. Through this initiative, many Ghanaians, including my very self, get the chance to follow the activities of the legislative arm of government. We see the processes they go through in passing laws and making amendments.
Recently, I have been following their activities including discussion on the budget read by the Finance Minister, Dr Casiel Ato Forson. I was so happy with the estimates for the roads ministry especially because of the nature of our roads. A lot of our roads connecting the capital to other regions are very bad, making traveling very difficult and quite stressful.
I wish to appeal to the two divides in the house of parliament to bury their political differences to do a good work on the estimates for speedy approvals. That would help the ministry fulfil its financial obligations for contractors to move to site and ensure that our roads get the needed facelifts to make travelling easy and enjoyable.
Kwame Eugene,
Kasoa
