The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor has called on the traditional authorities, opinion leaders, and government officials in and around the Northern region to protect the area from illegal mining to remain relevant in the development agenda of the government.
The Minister made this known when he met the Northern Regional Security Council in Tamale during his one–day tour of the Northern Region.
He, however, stated some intervention being made by the government to stop the illegal harvesting of wood including the impounding of Rosewood and the outright ban on the commodity as well as a soon-to-be rolled-out aggressive Afforestation drive in response to deforestation to restore the country’s forest cover.
According to Abu Jinapor, the move will help ensure effective security operations at all levels in curbing the jeopardy of illegal mining from the area and the country as well.
The Northern Regional Minister, Hon. Shani Alhassan Shaibu on his part bewailed the wanton encroachment on public lands, forest reserves, and sand winning which has become a challenge in the region.
He hoped the current partnership with the Ministry will resolve many of these challenges and will go a long way to protect the natural resources of the country.
Source: Mybrytfmonline/Abba Kwegyirba Aggrey
