He urged the Mineral’s Commission to support the small-scale mining sector by undertaking geological investigations before giving out the concessions to the miners.

  He explained that a geological data could be used to collateralise loans from financial institutions or raise funds from stock Exchange to finance the construction of a mine that has the capacity to provide decent employment for many persons as envisaged under Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 8.

  Mr Nantogmah made the call in Accra at the launch and celebration of this year’s international Nurses day organised by the Ghana Nurses and Midwives Association.

  The programme was on the theme: “Health Implications of “Galamsey” and the Attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals; Nurses and Midwives Acting in one Voice with Stakeholders”.

  Mr Nantogmah explained the practice of illegal mining involved the extraction of mineral without the needed licence from the Mineral Commission or in an area not specified within mining lease.

  He said persons who engaged in illegal mining open up the earth to remove precious minerals without recourse to due process and at the end endanger the lives of the citizenry.

  He was of the view that weak regulatory oversight and parochial considerations have resulted in the proliferation of illegal mining activities, replacing the once artisanal small scale mining which relied on traditional tools for mining.

  Mr Nantogmah said mining in water bodies which was outlawed, poses health risks to the population and has adverse implications on the country’s capacity to achieve SDGs six (6) which ensured the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

  He said the Ghana Water Company has expressed concern about its main water sources in all the regions being polluted by illegal mining activities, considering the health risk by the use of mercury in processing mineral ore and its disposal in water bodies.

  Mr Nantogmah indicated that the problem of illegal mining and its harmful impacts on the society must galvanise every citizen to demand an end to the issue, saying the Chamber of Mines has reiterated its commitment to support government and stakeholders to eliminate illegal mining.

  “The Chamber of Mines spearheaded the amendment of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) to provide for the confiscation of the inputs and output of illegal mining and the criminalisation of the illicit activity,” he added.

  He urged all to support the government’s approach to addressing the illegal mining menace and provide the necessary ideas to end the vicious dissipation of the natural resources and the environment.