The promise of prosperity glimmers anew in Ghana’s Upper East Region, where government officials have confirmed significant gold deposits in at least ten out of the region’s fifteen districts.
The announcement, made by Upper East Regional Minister Donatus Akamugri Atanga at his first press soiree in Bolgatanga, has ignited both hope and responsibility among local communities and policymakers.
“About ten out of the fifteen districts have gold deposits that must benefit our people,” Minister Atanga told journalists, underscoring the government’s commitment to ensuring that the region’s mineral wealth would translate into real economic opportunity, without sacrificing environmental integrity.
With gold’s lure comes the shadow of illegal mining, or galamsey, which has devastated water bodies, farmlands, and forests across Ghana. Determined to change this narrative, Atanga described how the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC), in partnership with the Minerals Commission, Environmental Protection Agency, traditional authorities, and security agencies, has ramped up monitoring and enforcement. Their efforts aim to protect the region’s natural resources while guaranteeing that mining activities remain both lawful and sustainable.
A recent crackdown, led personally by the Minister and the Regional Security Council (REGSEC), saw operations sweep through the Tilli Forest along the Red Volta River and the Naaga Forest. The results were decisive: seventy illegal miners, including foreign nationals from Togo and Burkina Faso, were arrested and mining equipment seized. All suspects now face prosecution in a Circuit Court, a clear signal of the government’s resolve.
But enforcement is only one part of the strategy. Atanga emphasized that the government is actively engaging with small-scale miners and local communities, encouraging compliance with mining regulations and promoting safer, more sustainable practices. In areas like Talensi District, where clashes over mining rights have simmered, REGSEC has stepped in to mediate disputes between small-scale miners and large-scale companies, restoring dialogue and defusing tensions.
To further empower local communities, the RCC has submitted a list of mining communities, Teshie, Sapeliga, Santeng, Tarkwa, Bongo, Kadema, Naaga, Bechisi, and Nabdam, to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources. The goal: to negotiate with concession holders to allocate portions of mining concessions under the government’s Corporate Mining Scheme, offering young people a legal path into the mining sector.
“These interventions demonstrate the government’s commitment to curbing illegal mining while creating lawful and sustainable livelihood opportunities for our young people,” Minister Atanga affirmed.
As gold fever spreads across the Upper East, the real challenge lies in ensuring that the region’s newfound wealth builds a brighter, more sustainable future for all—where prosperity and environmental stewardship go hand in hand.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com
