{"id":313620,"date":"2017-04-25T05:59:54","date_gmt":"2017-04-25T05:59:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/citifmonline.com\/?p=313620"},"modified":"2017-04-25T05:59:54","modified_gmt":"2017-04-25T05:59:54","slug":"illegal-miners-will-be-engaged-in-tree-planting-program-amewu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2017\/04\/illegal-miners-will-be-engaged-in-tree-planting-program-amewu\/","title":{"rendered":"Illegal miners will be engaged in tree planting program \u2013 Amewu"},"content":{"rendered":"
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, John Peter Amewu, has said that all illegal miners will be engaged in tree planting and other reclamation programmes to help restore lands affected by the illegal activity<\/strong><\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n According to him, this could serve as an alternative source of livelihood for the illegal miners<\/a><\/span><\/strong> who have been ordered to cease their activities.<\/p>\n [contextly_sidebar id=”8XM1OFZg51DNt8fb9c7UvAU8iQ1BD7BU”]Speaking on Eyewitness News<\/strong> on Monday, the Minister said, the government through a 5-year Multilateral Mining Integrated Project (MMIP) will roll out a livelihood empowerment project for the illegal miners to create an employment avenue for them.<\/p>\n \u201cFor those who want to be engaged in the mining activities, they will be absorbed into the MMIP. With the reclamation across this country, it is estimated that about 1.5% of the earth surface has been degraded as a result of this activity. That alone is going to provide jobs for the communities that want to re-engage in reclamation and planting of trees. The MMIP is an attempt to absorb all factory hands engaged in illegal activities to be absorbed back within a period of 5 years where exploration activities will be done in areas that are prospective and these factory hands will be brought here to mine,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Mr. Amewu added that, the government wanted to ensure that the sector is sanitized and devoid of illegal miners to ensure effective regulation and protection of the country\u2019s environment<\/a><\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\n Many communities in Ghana are currently suffering the negative effects of galamsey which has left most of Ghana\u2019s fresh water bodies poisonous.<\/p>\n Thousands of acres of fertile farmlands have also been destroyed as a result of galamsey. Although Ghana\u2019s laws are clear on illegal mining, the activity has been allowed to continue for more than two decades.<\/p>\n Citi FM<\/strong>\u00a0has been at the forefront of media advocacy and crusade for action against the illegal activity. The station has among other things petitioned Parliament to act to stop the illegal activity.<\/p>\n Some illegal miners have challenged government\u2019s fight against the menace, indicating that they do not have an alternative source of livelihood.<\/p>\n But the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources has said that government will provide an alternative source of livelihood for them.<\/p>\n