Do not allow mining in forest reserves - Akuoku Sarpong

Accra, Sept. 6, GNA - Nana Akuoku Sarpong, Omanhene of Agogo Traditional Area, on Wednesday appealed to the Government to stop allocating concessions to mining firms in forest reserves.

Speaking at a review workshop on Good Governance in Land Tenure/ Administration Systems in Ghana, he said the pressure coming from mining companies to enter forest reserves if allowed would do the country no good.

He said the country's remaining forest was diminishing very fast and mining should not be allowed to take over the rest of the forest, because the long term effect on the people would be unbearable. He said land had multiple uses such as farming, industry, housing, mining and many more, so the nation needed to weigh the profitability of each land use against the long-term effect before embarking on each use. Nana Akuoku Sarpong said although there were rumours of gold being discovered in his area, he was not going to allow any mining firm access to the place since their prospecting for gold would affect other major activities such as farming.

He said he would not permit the prospecting of gold in the area because it would affect the water sources as a number of rivers had their watersheds in the area.

Nana Akuoku Sarpong called for a review of the mining laws to give greater rights to the people living around mining concessions.