War against illegal mining: 200 river guards to be deployed this year

The government says about 200 river guards will be trained and deployed to fight illegal mining in communities, under the River Protection Unit of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.

The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, George Mireku Duker said at a press briefing at Tarkwa, in the Western Region.

“We are going to ensure that we monitor these river guards to be deployed to ensure discipline,” he said.

The Deputy Minister also announced that the Mining Development Unit (MDU) of the Ministry would be launched this year.

He explained that the MDU would address concerns of small-scale miners, “so that there will be no more excuses that mining is capital intensive.”

He further added that as part of efforts to meet the Minamata Convention, over 100 mercury-free gold processing equipment are expected to be delivered this year.

“Mercury is poisonous. The old practice of extracting gold at about 45 per cent rate apart from the danger it poses to miners and the environment. Ghana is committed to the meet the Minamata Convention.”