The Denkyira Traditional Council has proposed the siting of a University of Mines and Technology (UMAT) campus within the Upper Denkyira East Municipality to facilitate training in small scale mining for the youth of the area.
According to the Council, the campus would fit the profile of the area as a centre of mining and afford the people the opportunity to build their skills and capacity in mining.
Acting President of the Council, Nana Agyei Nkyereyeh II, said a campus dedicated to mining would deepen government’s resolve to promote sustainable mining in the area and the country at large.
The chief, who is also the Adontenhene of Denkyira, was speaking when the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, led a delegation to pay a courtesy call on the Council, here are Dunkwa-on-Offin in the Upper Denkyira East Municipality.
The Adontenhene appealed to the Minister to work with the Minerals Commission to extend the commission’s district office to the municipality to provide much-needed service to miners.
“We need a Minerals Commission office here. It will help in the reforms here and attend to the needs of our people,” he said.
The chief urged the ministry to organise a workshop to educate traditional leaders on the new Land Act to enhance their knowledge and help in effective land administration.
He expressed concern about rising crime rate, especially armed robbery in the municipality and appealed to the Minister to liaise with his counterpart at the Interior Ministry to increase police presence in the area.
On his part, Mr Jinapor lauded the role of chiefs in the government’s efforts to sanitise the small scale mining sector and other areas supervised by the ministry.
He said chiefs were critical agents of change who readily offered support, advice and guidance toward a path of development.
He said the government was banking on the support of the chiefs in executing plans and strategies to rid the country of illegal mining.
“The future of our country is threatened and we can’t allow it to continue. With your support, this government will put in all the efforts to achieve a sustainable and viable mining sector,” Mr Jinapor added.
He said the ministry would forward the concerns of the council to the appropriate quarters for attention.
FROM CLAUDE NYARKO ADAMS, DUNKWA-ON-OFFIN