Minister-Designate for Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare Addo, says finding other ways for people in mining areas to earn a living is the best way to stop illegal mining, also known as “galamsey.”

Speaking to Parliament’s Appointments Committee, Opare Addo, also called Pablo, said people need to change how they think about mining and use better methods that won’t harm the environment.

He explained that many people turn to illegal mining because of poverty. To solve this problem, he suggests creating new job opportunities that can help people earn money in legal ways.

Opare Addo believes that if these programs are put in place, communities can stop illegal mining and focus on better ways to develop while protecting the environment.

“There is a Ghana we all want. I want a Ghana where illegal mining is not a part of but we do mining in a manner which is sustainable and won’t degrade the environment in any way. I believe that is also the vision of John Dramani Mahama.

“For young people who want to go into mining, we have to reset their minds. There is an old way that they have done things and they must re-engage them to change them from the old way they have done things.

“We are going to work together with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to look at sustainable ways of mining. I have maintained that wherever there is gold and there is poverty, people will find a way of getting under the ground to find the gold.

“We must eradicate poverty from the areas we find ourselves and if we have been able to do that effectively, by giving them alternative livelihood we may bring an end to illegal mining,” he said.