Samuel Abu Jinapor, a former Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, has proposed the establishment of an independent body to enforce mining regulations and fight illegal small-scale mining in Ghana. He made the suggestion in Accra on Monday at the launch of the Ghana component of the “Justice in Critical Minerals Governance and Energy Transition” project.
Independent Taskforce Needed to Tackle Galamsey
Samuel Abu Jinapor, a former Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, believes a new institutional approach is required to tackle the menace of galamsey. He said the persistent failure of successive governments to make sufficient progress in tackling the menace requires a new approach that would insulate enforcement from political considerations.
Mr Jinapor suggested that the proposed institution should be created through an Act of Parliament or another appropriate legal framework, with a clear mandate to enforce mining laws and regulations. He cited Australia and Canada as examples of countries where agencies responsible for enforcing relevant laws operate independently of the Executive.
Australia and Canada Models for Independent Enforcement
Mr Jinapor said that the proposed institution should be modelled after agencies in Australia and Canada, which operate independently of the Executive. He believes that this approach would allow for more effective enforcement of mining regulations and a reduction in the influence of political considerations.
Balancing Foreign Investment and National Interest
Mr Jinapor also urged Ghana to balance the attraction of foreign capital and expertise with the protection of the national interest. He said that limited technology, capital, and technical capacity make strategic partnerships necessary, but stressed that the country should retain more value through refining, processing, technology transfer, skills development, and local participation.
Environmental Activism and Enforcement
Mr Jinapor defended environmental activism, saying that citizens seeking to protect water bodies and communities from the effects of mining should not be criminalised for legitimate advocacy. However, he cautioned that activism should not be used to justify unlawful conduct, citing an incident at Obuasi where local people invaded a large-scale mining concession and were trapped underground.
Stronger Enforcement Across the Extractive Sector
Mr Jinapor called for stronger enforcement across the extractive sector, saying that both illegal operators and large-scale mining companies must be held accountable for breaches of the law. He said that activism should be encouraged, and activists should be celebrated, because it is through activism and advocacy that we can make progress in dealing with these matters.
A Common Approach to Critical Minerals Governance
Mr Jinapor also urged African resource-rich countries to develop a common approach to critical minerals governance and value addition to strengthen their bargaining position in global markets. He said that Ghana needs to balance the attraction of foreign capital and expertise with the protection of the national interest, and that limited technology, capital, and technical capacity make strategic partnerships necessary.
Lessons from Ghana, Chile, and Australia
The project, which is being implemented collaboratively in Ghana, Australia, and Chile, aims to improve how countries pursue clean energy and critical mineral extraction in ways that are fair, just, and beneficial to all stakeholders. The research will explore how communities expressed ideas about justice, accountability, environmental responsibility, and resource stewardship through storytelling, music, proverbs, visual arts, performances, and folklore.
What's Next for Ghana's Mining Sector?
The establishment of an independent taskforce to enforce mining regulations and fight illegal small-scale mining in Ghana is a crucial step towards addressing the country's mining challenges. The proposal by Samuel Abu Jinapor, a former Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, is a call to action for the government to take a more proactive approach to tackling galamsey and promoting sustainable mining practices.
Source: Joy Online
