The parliamentarians were tasked to take tangible actions to drive change in their respective constituencies to curb the illegal mining scourge.

They would also be equipped with the requisite knowledge, skills and tools to lead the charge in their respective constituencies to crackdown on the menace.

The conference, which was held on the theme, "Restoring a Culture of Proper Small-Scale Mining in Ghana," brought together 180 parliamentarians, heads of agencies under the Ministry including the Ghana Geological Authority, Minerals Commission, Forestry Commission, Lands Commission and Environmental Protection Agency, as well as Civil Society Organisations.

Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, in his address, said the government would support MPs to lead the charge in their constituencies to mobilise their constituents to form Community Mining Co-operatives to engage in proper mining.

The Minister said the Community Mining Cooperatives would be issued with mining licences and assisted to acquire mining concessions to undertake legal small-scale mining.

The minister underscored the need for collective responsibility by all stakeholders to protect and preserve the natural resources.

"Illegal small-scale is a social and economic crisis that threatened our livelihoods.
He observed that out of the 288 forest reserves in the country 44 of them were under serious threats by illegal mining, representing 7,500 hectares of standard football field.

The minister said the turbidity levels of the water bodies had worsened, currently ranging from 5,000 to 12,000 NTU, which in normal circumstances should range between zero and 500.
The minister expressed President John Mahama's commitment to tackle the galamsey menace head-on.

"Fighting illegal small-scale mining must get to the root cause and identify the main financiers and big wigs and shame them," he said.

Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyeman, the Special Guest for the conference, said the choices the stakeholders would make today would impact the future generation.
She noted, "We must move from rhetoric to tangible actions to drive change in our constituencies."