The World Bank is to support the implementation of the Multi-Sectorial Integrated Mining Project (MSIMP) of the government with US$ 50 million.
Out of the amount, US$ 30 million would be loan and US$ 20 million would be a grant.
Dr Isaac Bonsu Karikari, the Acting National Project Coordinator for the MSIMP disclosed this at a town hall meeting organised by the Media Coalition Against Galamsey (MCAG) at Osino, one of the communities affected by illegal mining, popularly called galamsey in the Eastern Region.
He explained that the MSIMP was to ensure responsible and sustainable small scale mining in the country and also ensure that all players in the small scale mining chain including landlords, traditional authorities, communities, government and the mining companies groups benefit from the small scale mining.
Dr Karikari said under the project, district assemblies would establish mining committees with trained personnel who would monitor and ensure responsible and sustainable mining in their districts and all excavators in the country would be registered and tracked so that they could easily be captured on drones when used for illegal mining for easy arrest of the owners.
He said the ban on small scale mining would soon be lifted but could not give any date.
In a speech read on behalf of the Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Tettey, he expressed support of the Eastern Regional Coordinating Council for the activities of the MCAG and said mining committees had been established in the districts to support the fight against illegal mining.
He called for collaboration and cooperation among all players in the fight against illegal mining.
Squadron Leader Omani Agyei of the Operation Vanguard (OV), the team of police and soldiers who are enforcing the ban on illegal mining in the country, appealed for stiffer punishment for people arrested for engaging in illegal mining.
He appealed for low loaders to enable OV team to move excavators and heavy machines seized from illegal miners from the forest to safety.
Source: GNA
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