Joseph Ade Coker, a former Greater Accra Regional Chairman of NDC

A former Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Joseph Ade Coker, has demanded an absolute ban on all forms of mining to facilitate land reclamation efforts in the country.

He made the call during an interview with Channel One TV, on April 2, stressing that a decisive action is necessary to protect Ghana’s natural resources from further deterioration.

He suggested that the government commits to a directive that would require large-scale mining companies to temporarily halt operations for at least three to four years and engage in active reclamation to restore damaged lands.

“Galamsey should be banned; small-scale mining should be suspended. The big companies should be set aside for the next three to four years to reclaim our land,” he said.

He argued that the proceeds generated from mineral extraction is nothing compared to the damage caused to the environment.

“How much are we getting from our gold? The last time I heard, $2 billion worth of Ghana’s gold was exported to Dubai, and out of that $2 billion, most of it was smuggled. Ghana gained just peanuts from it,” he stated.

Ade Coker also emphasised the importance of tracking excavators used in mining operations to prevent illegal activities.

“We should have an inventory of all the excavators in this country. We should find out which excavator is in road construction and how many are in mining, then call the owners to bring them to designated places,” he added.

VPO/AE

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