Mining has become a development controversy. Its contribution to GDP is about 6% and accounts for about 40% of foreign exchange earnings. These benefits notwithstanding, surface mining is associated with conflicts, pollution of water bodies, health risks, environmental degradation, livelihood losses, displacement, abandoned pits among others.
Unfortunately, mining, environment and our developmental challenges are not central themes in the political campaign agenda. The electorate are not demanding commitments from political aspirants on thorny issues such as mining in forest reserves, illegal mining operations that are being controlled by foreigners, how to incorporate the principle of Free Prior and Informed Consent(FPIC) in our mining laws, improving environmental standards , how to address environmental problems of Ghana etc.
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