Minister Advises Miners On Sound Land Use Practices

Yale (Upper East), 28 Oct. Mr Fred Ohene-Kena, Minister of Mines and Energy has advised miners in the Upper East Region to adopt sound management practices to protect the fragile land of the area. Mr Ohene Kena who was on a two-day familiarisation visit to the Bolgatanga District following media reports of a gold boom in the area, was addressing small-scale miners and chiefs and people of Yale, a mining village. He said small-scale mining in the country should be closely monitored and controlled to ensure that they do not cause environmental problems. Mr Ohene-Kena was not happy with the haphazard activities of the miners and urged them to form cooperatives to undertake sound mining and cautioned illegal miners in the area to formalise their operations. Mr Ohene Kena later went on inspection tour of two mining service companies, Tongo and Wermland Mining companies. He assured the companies and small-scale miners of government support. Mr John Akologu Tia, MP for Talensi said the Minister's visit has erased the wrong impression that the media created the gold boom in the area. Dr Albert Tenga, Bolgatanga District Chief Executive said the district assembly and the Minerals Commission constantly monitor the activities of the miners adding that an educational campaign on safe mining and environmental protection is in progress. The Chief of the area, Nab Pulsodtaaba Nabil and the miners appealed to the government to improve the road network in the area and provide potable water for the people.