The Minister of Finance Mr. Ofori -Atta has hinted that the government will soon launch a national alternative employment and livelihood program for illegal small-scale miners flushed out by Operation Halt Military taskforce.
Presenting the Mid-Year Fiscal Policy Review of the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2021 Financial Year, on Thursday, July 29, the Minister said
“As part of our efforts to create jobs for young people, Government will, in the coming weeks, launch a National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Programmes for illegal small-scale miners affected by the activities of Operation Halt II”.
He stressed that “this program will be anchored on six (6) main interventions namely; National Land Reclamation and Re-afforestation; Agricultural and Agro-processing; Apprenticeship, Skills Training, and Entrepreneurship; Responsible, Viable and Sustainable Community Mining; Mine Support Services and Community Enhancement Projects”
These initiatives will target mainly illegal miners displaced by the ongoing efforts to sanitize the mining industry. The government recognizes the need to protect our environment, just as it finds it necessary to provide alternative employment and livelihoods for our compatriots who will inevitably fall through the cracks”.
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com/Obed Ansah
