A spokesperson of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Paul Amaning, has endorsed the call for a ban on surface mining also known as alluvial mining.
He said the practice where miners would drill holes beneath the surface of the earth to extract gold should not be entertained.
According to Mr. Amaning, the practice of alluvial mining, which has existed since time immemorial, was the genesis of illegal mining that has now become a national canker.
“This method is mostly to be blamed for the devastation in our fields and the pollution of our water bodies. We mistakenly believe that only Chinese people mine gold, yet due to Ghana’s plentiful resources, Ghanaians have also participated in the galamsey activities,” he said Thursday, September 19, 2024 on the Angel Morning Show.
He added that the galamsey practice has also affected the social and moral lives in various societies.
“Galamsey is undermining our moral lives and chieftaincies because, if you can work hard, lead the galamsey activities, and make enough money, you can eventually rise to the position of becoming a chief.”
He buttresses his argument with an instance where he noted that three gentlemen have held the position of various chieftaincy positions at Akyem Asuom in the Eastern Region.
