George Opare Addo, the Minister-Designate for Youth Development and Empowerment, has outlined a comprehensive plan to combat illegal mining, commonly referred to as galamsey, by providing alternative livelihoods to impoverished residents in mining communities.During his vetting before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Wednesday, Opare Addo, popularly known as Pablo, underscored the importance of addressing the root causes of galamsey.

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He explained that poverty in mining areas often compels residents to engage in illegal mining activities, making sustainable solutions critical to ending the menace.“We must eliminate poverty in the communities where illegal mining thrives. If we can effectively provide alternative livelihoods, we may succeed in bringing an end to illegal mining,” he stated.

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The minister-designate also highlighted the importance of reorienting the youth in mining communities toward sustainable practices. “For young people who want to go into mining, we have to reset their minds. There is an old way they have done things, and we must re-engage them to change that approach,” he said.

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Opare Addo emphasized his intention to collaborate closely with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to promote sustainable mining practices. “We are going to work together with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to look at sustainable ways of mining.

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I want a Ghana where illegal mining is not a part of our reality, but instead, we mine in a manner that is sustainable and does not degrade the environment in any way,” he remarked.He further noted that tackling illegal mining requires a multifaceted approach, including the implementation of poverty alleviation programs. “Wherever there is gold and poverty, people will find a way of getting underground to extract the gold.

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We must eradicate poverty from these areas. By giving them alternative livelihoods, we can shift their focus to more productive and sustainable economic activities,” he stressed.Illegal mining has long posed a significant threat to Ghana’s environment, with water bodies and forest reserves suffering extensive damage.

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Despite efforts by successive governments, the galamsey menace persists, prompting citizens to demand pragmatic measures to end the practice.

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