The Vice President, Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, says there is pressing need for collective action to curb illegal mining in the country.
According to her, illegal mining was destroying the country's water bodies, arable lands and forest, threatening the livelihoods of many communities that depend on these natural resources.
Opening the maiden Parliamentarians' Conference on Restoring the Culture of Proper Small-scale Mining in Ghana, she said government alone could not fight illegal mining and would require the support of Parliamentarians and traditional leaders.
The day's programme was on the theme "Restoring a Culture of Proper Small-Scale Mining in Ghana", and the programme was aimed to sensitise and orient Members of Parliament on the effects of small-scale mining activities and to equip them with the knowledge and tools to lead the charge in their respective constituencies.
