Harry Yamson, NDC’s Spokesperson on Agriculture, has emphasised that the party’s manifesto actively addresses the issue of illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.
Speaking on “The Big Issue” on Channel One TV, Yamson pointed out that the NDC flagbearer John Dramani Mahama has proposed the establishment of a dedicated board to oversee and regulate small-scale mining operations.
This initiative aims to bring structure to the sector and mitigate the detrimental effects of unregulated mining, particularly on cocoa production.
Yamson explained that the proposal involves creating a structured framework to formalize the sector, which has grown into an economy of its own.
“There was a very significant statement that our flagbearer made and I think he introduced the idea of a gold board that will encourage our small-scale miners to act within a structured framework so that we will reduce this unregulated, illegal mining that has become the bane of cocoa. I think it is an important idea that we need to think about.
“Whether it is the board or minerals commission, ultimately what we are saying is that we have to find a way to formalise this sector, and bring people under some control. Because it has become an economy on its own.
“We cannot bury our heads in the sand and say that it is not there. But the thing is, how do you stop its worst effect? So, there is a proposal on the table to formalise this and put them within a framework that allows us to better manage it. The NDC has not been silent. We have decided to take the bull by the horns and accept that it is a problem,” he stated.
