100 Acres of Galamsey Land RECLAIMED: Ministry of Lands & Ashanti RCC Begins Massive Restoration!

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[00:12:01]Thank you. Um this is a directive from the ministry of lands and natural resources um to the various regions that have um these mining problems in their areas. So the Ashant region led by the regional minister Dr. Frank took it upon himself. Um had a committee led by the national security that is the regional national security NADMO EPA and then the um minerals development fund. So I think some few months ago um we opened um this up to the general public especially those in the mining areas and um local companies who are interested and willing to help reclaim the lands. So most of them were taken through Vin and then we have to go and inspect the sites that they want to um reclaim and um I think we had about 23 of them whose applications were approved by the regional minister and then we have to follow up some few weeks ago. So we have to follow up and see if they are really doing what they are supposed to do. So I think with you we've been to about three places. Um for a start I will say so far so good going forward um because um we have seen one of the places the person has planted I think palm seedlings and some other stuff other places to cava and others and as I'm speaking with you we are here with some of the farmers who lost uh their lands um through this degradation uh they are happy now that they've got gotten their lands back and they want to come back and farm again.

[00:14:01]Um for for the beginning I will say um I'm okay for now. We only have to be on guard at least um you'll be doing this two weeks monitoring and see how far things will be go. As for that one, I will not say it here, but you take this from me from now once um we've given the opportunity to these individuals and local companies to come on board, assist and in a way make sure the lands they are destroying, they have to reclaim it. We are going to seriously um take um action on them. you know some of the applicants were already mining the uh places. So through the virt and the orientation we organized for them um we told them to make sure any pit around the place or the site they have applied for they have to make sure it is covered before they open up a new one.

[00:15:13]That was something serious that we told them. So wherever we have been, I know you have seen it that you will not see more than one pit around any of the sites we have been to. It's almost a year that I've been duty chief executive and I came to meet so many abandoned P within Bomeo and as uh President Muhammad when he was aspiring for president in Ghana he promised the good people of Ghanaians that when he assume office he will make sure responsible mining will be carried out throughout the nation and Since so many abandoned pits which has been a death trap which cause human life.

[00:16:06]So we thought it wise that if any volunteers any group of people any small manner who is willing to reclamate the land for it to regain its fertility for the farmers to also do whatever they want. we are on it and so that you've incorporated with the national security NADMU MDF and what have you that has brought what you have seen today in Brian we have so many abandoned pits as I said almost a year I came to meet most of the abandoned we did and some people have lost their life at least I could mention maybe two or three people who have lost their life through um this abandoned pits. So >> in recent times >> in recent time even last week uh a lady fell into one of the abandoned pits of which the intent was that he wanted to go and fetch water to cook and it was rather unfortunate. It was rain and then the place was so slippy and he fell into the pit including her young child and the two of them lost their life. So the case has been reported to the police command of which the one who did that is now trading to be arrested so that you make sure proper work we also carry out within the district and also serve as a deterrent to others who don't do do not want to appide or comprise with the rules and regulations governed the mining. So that's why we have taken you to one of the sites of which small miners or individuals have volunteered to cover the land for it to I mean it fertility for the farmers to also make good use of it. We have instructed my NADMO director in the district to go around to the various sites um for the those abandoned pits for us to identify those people who mind that place for them to be traced and if possible arrest and maybe take into court.

[00:18:43]>> Yeah. So that is the uh the initiative that as a DCA and the police command have taken to restore those abandoned pit within Bosway. If we warned those who are doing it that after they reclaim the land they make sure they won't revisit it again and if they does so they will be arrested. Taz Aub is my name. The DC for Africa district.

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