Accra, Ghana (PANA) - The ministry of Lands and Natural Resources Thursday ordered an immediate suspension of prospecting for gold in the country's forest reserves with immediate effect, an official statement issued here Thursday said.
The statement, signed by the sector minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor, charged all companies and persons undertaking prospecting and reconnaissance in any of the forest reserves to "within a matter of seven days withdraw their equipment and abandon the process until further notice".
"The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources hereby directs persons and/or companies engaged in reconnaissance and/or prospecting in any forest reserve with or without legal authorization, to suspend such activities until further notice," the statement said.
It further directed the Minerals Commission , with immediate effect, not to accept, process and or recommend the grant, including renewal, and/or extension of reconnaissance and prospecting licenses in forest reserves.
It directed companies or persons engaged in reconnaissance and prospecting in forest reserves seven days to cease their operations and evacuate their equipment.
The order comes in the wake of unbridled illegal gold mining in some communities in the country where even cocoa farms and food crops are destroyed to pave way for gold prospecting and mining.
-0- PANA RA 22Apr2021.
