A senior lecturer at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Dr. Ishmael Quaicoe has underscored the need for key stakeholders including the government, traditional authorities, EPA, Minerals commission and the media to help intensify public radio education on how to practice responsible mining in the country.
He said, this will help the public especially those involving in illegal mining activities to understand how their activities impacting negatively on the environment and the role that key stakeholders can play to safeguard the environment.
Dr Ishmael Quaicoe was speaking to Newsmen during a day sensitization workshop at the Miklin Hotel in Kumasi for key actors in mining industry on the need to promote Artisanal Small Scale Mining Radio school in various mining communities to help educate the people on responsible mining.
Some of the participants who took part in the workshop included members of Ghana National Association of Small scale miners(GNASSM), representative from minerals commission, Environmental Protection Agency, University of Mines and Technology, traditional authorities and media practitioners.
In his response, the vice president of Ghana National Association of Small scale miners, Mr Sampson Kofi Wiredu said that, the leadership of the association have considered that, Artisan Small scale miners Radio school which has started on some radio stations at Tarkwa and Bunsu is making positive impact in mining industry and believes that when extended to other mining communities will yield positive impact on proper mining.
He however appealed to the ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to speed up with the process of signing concession mining permit to the members of the association to help promote responsible mining.
Mr Wiredu believes that, the delays of signing concession mining permit to the members will contribute to illegal mining.
