A Co-ordinator of the Multi-Sectorial Mining Integrated Programme (MMIP), Dr. Isaac KariKari, has justified the government’s decision to acquire a 200 million dollar facility to implement the programme
According to Dr. Isaac KariKari, the money be given the country will not entirely be a loan.
Government is seeking to raise some $200 million from donors for the implementation of the Multi- Sectorial Mining Integration Project which seeks to ensure sustainable mining in the country.
[contextly_sidebar id=”DI2qK6YUpiUydFquJ6hudqhH78yzCxsf”]The World Bank and the Australian government have already committed $30 million and $500,000 respectively for the implementation of the project.
But speaking to Citi News, Dr. Karikari insisted that the facility which is coming in 40-60 percent loan and grant respectively is needed to reclaim lost lands in the country.
“We are going to get about 40 percent loan and 60 percent grant. It is not all going to be loan. What we are doing is not to go and ask for money. We should be able to get people understand that this is a global challenge. The people are willing to give grant so that we will be able to come out with the environmental solutions to what have been created by ‘galamsey’. So it is not as if we are going to beg. We are just partnering people and then try to restore our land to their former glory.”
About the project
The Multi- Sectorial Mining Integration Project was launched last year in the wake of illegal mining popularly called galamsey which destroyed several acres of land across the country.
According to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the programme contains strategies that will help to reclaim lands destroyed through illegal mining activities.
It also entails the provision of technical training of artisans and small-scale miners and how technology can be incorporated into small scale mining to ensure sustainable and environmentally friendly mining activities.
The Lands and Natural Ministry says it will need 200 million dollars to achieve that aim.
The Inter-ministerial Committee on mining earlier put together a roadmap that will offer short term solution for illegal mining.
The Multi-sectorial Mining Integrated Project, on the other hand, is a long term approach to ensuring sustainable mining in the country.
Implementation of the project will be done within a five year period.
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By: Kojo Agyemang | citinewsroom.com |Ghana