ad_1]
The Minister of Lands and Pure Sources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has reiterated that forest reserves stay no-mining zones as a part of efforts to curb unlawful mining, besides in some distinctive conditions.
To this finish, he stated, the federal government has ceased issuing reconnaissance, prospecting and/or exploration licences in forest reserves, except below distinctive circumstances.
Moreover, river-bodies – most of which have their sources in forest reserves, he added – have additionally been declared as crimson zones for mining.
He in the meantime revealed {that a} complete of six forest entry permits have been issued for mining in Forest Reserves. They embody CIMAF Ghana Restricted, granted in 2018 and expired in 2021 and is not in power; and Chirano Gold Mines Restricted renewed in 2019 after the present allow granted in 2004 expired in 2019.
The remaining are Kingsperp Mining Ltd. – granted in 2020; Koantwi Mining Co. Ltd. – granted in 2020; Onex Worldwide Co. Ltd. – granted in 2020; and Trans-Atlantic Logistics Ltd. – granted in 2020.
Of the six permits, he stated, solely Chirano Gold Mines and Koantwi Mining are in mining operations, with the others nonetheless engaged on different permits and/or authorisations required to start their operations.
The minister was talking on the state of the nation’s forest reserves in parliament, and maintained that the ecological integrity of Ghana’s forest reserves has largely been maintained – regardless of a number of threats which impression negatively on the all-important assets.
Other than mining, a few of these threats embody bushfires, unlawful mining and logging, agricultural enlargement and settlement, amongst others, he stated.
Moreover, he famous that the Forestry Fee has put in place a number of measures to guard forest reserves from numerous drivers of deforestation and forest degradation. These embody common patrolling of the forest reserves, safety and upkeep of inside and exterior boundaries, awareness-creation and stakeholder sensitisation, and decommissioning and demobilisation of apparatus used for improprieties, amongst others.
Additionally, the minister stated tree-planting workout routines are being carried out to revive parts of forest reserves which have been affected by these drivers of deforestation – via initiatives such because the Inexperienced Ghana Venture, Youth in Afforestation/Reforestation Venture and the Modified Taungya System.
Unlawful mining
He stated authorities continues working towards curbing unlawful mining within the nation, with individuals arrested in forest reserves at the moment standing trial.
These measures, along with a number of others being taken by authorities towards unlawful mining, based on Mr. Jinapor are yielding good outcomes, with some enchancment within the high quality of rivers and different water-bodies.
Safety of public lands
Mr. Jinapor disclosed that the ministry is working in collaboration with the Lands Fee to undertake a list of public lands, together with these which have been encroached upon, to make sure their most safety.
He asserted that Part 236 of the Land Act, 2020 (Act 1036) enjoins the Lands Fee or any company for whose profit land has been acquired, to take the required steps to get well the land from encroachment. This consists of utilizing cheap power to eject encroachers from the land and demolishing constructions on such lands.
To this finish, he stated, the ministry has constituted a public lands safety crew to assist the Lands Fee and Ghana Police Service of their efforts towards the safety of public lands.
Supply: B&FT
| Disclaimer: Opinions expressed listed here are these of the writers and don’t replicate these of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no duty authorized or in any other case for his or her accuracy of content material. Please report any inappropriate content material to us, and we are going to consider it as a matter of precedence. |
Featured Video
