Gov’t directive on Forest ridiculous – Lands Minister

Gov’t directive on Forest ridiculous – Lands Minister A former Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Alhaji Inusah Fusieni, says prospecting in forest reserves is against the laws in Ghana. For this reason, he believes the government’s new directive for companies engaged in such activities to suspend their operations “until further notice” is ridiculous. A public notice issued by the sector minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor, said the decision was pursuant to the national small-scale mining dialogue concluded last week. “The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources hereby directs persons and/or companies engaged in reconnaissance and/or prospecting in Forest Reserves, with or without legal authorization, to suspend such activities until further notice…The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources has further directed the Minerals Commission, with immediate effect, not to accept, process and/or recommend the grant, including the renewal and/or extension, of reconnaissance and prospecting licences in Forest Reserves,” the statement indicated. But Inusah Fusieni speaking to media stated that the suggestion that prospecting licenses had been issued for entry into these reserves is indicative of the complicity of officialdom, which makes ensuring success in the fight against galamsey a near-impossibility. He encouraged the sector minister to out rightly, and immediately, ban the practice. He again added that, majority of New Patriotic Party (NPP) Executives are engaging in illegal mining activities.