The government's top objective, according to Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Samuel A. Jinapor, is to make sure that the nation's lands and natural resources are effectively protected, preserved, and used.
According to the Constitution, the people of Ghana own these lands and natural resources, and the government's responsibility is one of fiduciary care, necessitating the prudent and careful management of the resources for the benefit of the citizens of Ghana.
The Minister was speaking on Tuesday, July 20, 2022, during a news conference held by the Ministry of Information to inform the public about progress at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.
Regarding some of the measures the Ministry is putting into effect in the mining industry, Mr. Jinapor said the Government recently established a new local content policy, which led to an increase from 29 to 41 products and services designated for Ghanaians. He said that by doing this, Ghana will keep around US$2,000,000,000 that would have otherwise been exported.
Regarding small-scale mining, Mr. Jinapor said that the government had chosen a two-pronged strategy, i.e., reformation and law enforcement, to sanitise the industry. He listed a few of the progressive measures, including the adoption of mercury-free gold processing machinery, the modernization of the Community Mining Schemes, the tracking of mining and earthmoving machinery, and the acquisition of speedboats for river patrol.
In order to make sure we get the most out of our resources, he added, the government is also dedicated to diversifying the nation's mineral resource base, notably lithium and other green minerals, and adding value to them.
Mr. Jinapor stated that the government's main strategy in the forestry sector is to conserve our forest and animal resources as well as to replace the country's lost forest cover. Policies like the REDD+ Program, the Forest Investment Programme, the Rosewood Trade Ban, the Green Ghana Project, and the Cocoa and Forest Initiative are all targeted toward achieving this objective.
He also said that a Committee will be established the following week to carry out a new Green Street Project that aims to plant trees in the avenues and medians of all of the nation's provincial capitals.
The Minister stated that the government is dedicated to digitising the Lands Commission's records in order to maintain an efficient, open, responsive, and well-organized land management that is rooted in honesty.
According to him, this is being done in conjunction with decentralising the Lands Commission's activities to guarantee effective service delivery. In order to enhance the management of stool and skin lands, he said, the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands has also created an online application.
According to Mr. Jinapor, the Ministry has established a Public Lands Protection Team to guard public lands from invasion and retrieve any that have already been taken. He issued a warning to individuals who were in the business of intruding on public lands to stop doing so since it is illegal under the new Land Act, 2020 (Act 1036).
"As required by law, we won't think twice about razing unauthorised buildings on public property. In addition to destroying when necessary, we will also pursue legal action against encroachers, the Minister stated.
He said that the government will continue to establish and carry out policies and programmes via the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to guarantee that Ghanaians benefit from the the nation's territory and natural resources.
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