Opare Addo: Minister Designate advocates alternative livelihoods to combat illegal mining  

The Minister Designate for Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare Addo, has stressed the urgent need to provide alternative livelihoods for residents in mining communities as a sustainable solution to the pervasive issue of illegal mining, known locally as “galamsey.”

Appearing before Parliament’s Appointments Committee, Opare Addo, popularly known as Pablo, highlighted the deep connection between poverty and illegal mining in Ghana's resource-rich areas. He called for a paradigm shift towards sustainable mining practices that would protect the environment while fostering long-term development.  

“There is a Ghana we all want. I want a Ghana where illegal mining is not a part of but we do mining in a manner which is sustainable and won’t degrade the environment in any way. I believe that is also the vision of John Dramani Mahama,” Opare Addo stated.  

Tackling root causes  

Opare Addo underscored that poverty often drives residents of mining communities to engage in illegal mining. To address this, he proposed implementing alternative livelihood programs aimed at reducing poverty and creating sustainable employment opportunities.  

“We must eradicate poverty from the areas we find ourselves, and if we have been able to do that effectively, by giving them alternative livelihood, we may bring an end to illegal mining,” he said.  

Shifting mindsets and practices  

The minister designate also stressed the need to change the mindset of young people involved in mining by encouraging them to adopt modern, sustainable practices.  

“For young people who want to go into mining, we have to reset their minds. There is an old way that they have done things, and we must re-engage them to change from the old way they have done things,” he explained.  

Opare Addo pledged to collaborate closely with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to explore sustainable mining strategies.  

“We are going to work together with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to look at sustainable ways of mining. Wherever there is gold and there is poverty, people will find a way of getting under the ground to find the gold,” he remarked.  

The nominee’s approach aligns with the vision of President John Dramani Mahama to address the galamsey issue by providing viable alternatives for communities dependent on illegal mining. By focusing on poverty eradication and sustainable economic activities, Opare Addo aims to not only tackle the environmental degradation caused by galamsey but also to ensure a better future for residents of mining areas.