Founder and leader of the Movement for Change, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, says he will impose a one-year ban on small-scale mining if he wins the upcoming December elections.
According to him, once the ban is imposed, all the machinery and equipment including the earth-moving equipment will be immobilised.
Speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show on September 17, he said, “I will make sure they are moved into a storage preservation environment and I am proposing that the field engineer’s management of the armed forces will be responsible for that.”
Mr Kyerematen also noted that during the one-year ban, the government will utilise the advanced technology to restore all affected water bodies.
He explained that within the year that the mining is banned, a new framework will be established to help young people who will be displaced.
“There is going to be a period where all the degraded lands will be restored and that in itself is a major commercial activity, which the young people engaged in galamsey will have the opportunity of being part of the restoration.”
To support those affected by the ban, Kyerematen outlined plans to create new opportunities for young people displaced by the mining halt.
“Within that one year period, the government will also support the young people to establish their own mining companies. They will be provided with machinery and equipment which will be used in a sustainable way. Right now, if you look at the implements they use, obviously it is not the kind of instruments they should use for mining,” he said.
He also added that the government will provide displaced individuals with working capital to support sustainable mining ventures and will grant them the necessary licensing rights.