The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Asutifi South in the Ahafo Region, Benjamin Assabil Donkor, has called on the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to expedite the process of commissioning the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (COMSDEP) in the district to help combat illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
He made the call at Hwidiem when the District Assembly, together with COMSDEP, held a stakeholder engagement on the programme, which is expected to be established at Nkaseim.
Addressing the media, the DCE said stakeholders in the district had welcomed the Ministry’s decision to establish the programme at Nkaseim as part of efforts to tackle the illegal mining menace and reduce unemployment.
According to him, the establishment of the programme was one of the campaign promises that motivated the youth to vote massively for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), and therefore, the government cannot afford to delay its commissioning.
He said the District Assembly, together with the traditional authorities, is ready to put measures in place to ensure the sustainability of the programme once it is commissioned.
Speaking on behalf of the Paramount Chief of Hwidiem, the Adontenehene, Nana Baffour Kyei Anaafi commended the officers of the programme and the District Assembly for the engagement which has given them the clear picture of the programme.
He noted that, the chiefs who are the custodians of the lands are solidly behind the government for the programme to help address the fight of illegal mining and also to create jobs for the people.
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