Active Research Network for Environmental Governance (ARNEG), a Civil Society Organization, has raised concerns about the 36-page Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) report released by Prof. Frimpong Boateng. In their statement, ARNEG noted the report’s lack of sustainable policies and gaps in policy implementation.
For the most part, ARNEG expressed concern about the issuance of mining concessions in forest reserves, which is an affront to environmental protection. The Forestry Commission’s decision to issue permits to mining companies to extract mineral resources from forest reserves has led to severe pollution of water bodies. This development is a significant threat to the environment and the livelihoods of those who depend on these water bodies.
ARNEG also expressed concern about the political class’s involvement in illegal mining, which goes beyond “paper works.” The political class’s interference with IMCIM’s decisions, especially those related to the enforcement of the law, has resulted in the committee’s inability to achieve its goals.
ARNEG also identified gaps in policy implementation, such as the absence of robust monitoring and evaluation schemes among IMCIM members. The committee’s inability to realise its goals was also due to the non-migration of the Forestry Commission and partial migration by the Minerals Commission on the GalamStop platform. This situation limited the committee’s effectiveness.
In addition, poor implementation of the Alternative Livelihood programme initiative in mitigating illegal mining was partly to blame for the re-entry of indigenes into Galamsey pits. The indictment of security agencies involved in providing security was also another reason for the committee’s inability to realise its mandate as expected.
ARNEG made several recommendations to address the issues identified. These include the government’s demonstration of political will and commitment to tackle illegal mining, empowering mining regulatory agencies with sophisticated equipment to aid in their mandate, and considering a bipartisan approach in confronting threats to the environment and livelihoods in the mining sector.
In conclusion, ARNEG called on the Forestry Commission to reconsider and recall all permits issued to mine in forest reserves. The government should also discourage the creation of new institutions to handle programs already within the capacity of existing institutions. ARNEG believes that if the government implements these recommendations, it will promote environmental protection and prevent the severe pollution of water bodies.
Below is the full statement;
THE PROF. FRIMPONG BOATENG IMCIM REPORT CONUNDRUM
*Active Research Network for Environmental Governance (ARNEG)* expresses major concern about the Prof. Frimpong Boateng’s 36-page Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) report. While this report has gained traction among several stakeholders in recent times for various reasons, ARNEG exposes the sustainability and policy gaps presented in the IMCIM report.
*Observations*
• Issuance of concessions in forest reserves for mining purposes is an affront to environmental protection and should by no means be countenanced. ARNEG regrets the position of the Forestry Commission to issue concessions to mining companies to extract mineral resources from our fast-depleting forest reserves. The result of this decision has been the intense pollution of our water bodies.
• Political class neck-deep involvement in the Galamsey activities speaks volumes about how approaching Galamsey goes beyond “paper works”. Enforcement of decisions by the IMCIM is noted to have been interfered with by the political class who had ties with illegal mining operators.
*Policy Implementation Gap*
• The establishment of IMCIM was a strategic policy direction, however, the organisational structure of the committee was an underlying factor for the internal conflicts and politics.
• Absence of robust Monitoring and Evaluation scheme among IMCIM members. If members of the IMCIM were assigned specific tasks and duly monitored and evaluated, the committee would have been much more effective.
• The non-migration of the Forestry Commission and partial migration by the Minerals Commission on the GalamStop platform was contributing factor to the IMCIM’s inability to realise its goals.
• While the Alternative Livelihood programme initiative is commendable, poor implementation of the alternative livelihood programme in mitigating illegal mining is partly to blame for indigenes to return back to Galamsey pits.
• The indictment of Security agencies involved in providing security was another reason for the inability of the IMCIM to realise its mandate as expected.
Recommendations
• Government should demonstrate much political will and commitment to tackle illegal mining.
• Government should always consider a bipartisan approach in confronting threats to our environment and livelihoods in the mining sector.
• Government should empower mining regulatory agencies with sufficient sophisticated equipment to aid them in discharging their mandate in Galamsey-prone communities.
• The Forestry Commission should as a matter of urgency reconsider and recall all permits issued to mine in forest reserves.
• Government should also discourage the creation of political programmes that existing institutions are capable of handling. For example, YEA should be tasked to handle the alternative livelihood programme rather than creating a new institution to handle the alternative livelihood programme.
Signed
Kwesi Yamoah Abaidoo
(Policy Lead, Climate Finance & Energy Transition)
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