Land Reclamation To Be Enforced

The Ministry of Mines and Energy over the weekend completed training of Shovel Boys and Miners of two Proposed Mining and agriculture Cooperatives in Grand Gedeh and Sinoe Counties. Giving an overview of the training, Assistant Mines and Energy Minister for Planning and Human Resource Development, Johnson S. Willabo, Jr. said for years artisanal miners has been involved in a system of mining in the past that have had negative impacts on the environment due to lack of training in smarter mining procedure or system which calls for miners to refill the pits they dig after extracting the minerals and called on the miners to take the training seriously. Mr. Willabo said when artisanal miners organized themselves into cooperatives it will enable them to get external assistance or partnership which will improve their system of work as well as increase their minerals recovery or production and also help to minimize the many challenges faced by the miners
He said climate change is now high and the world is getting warmer and the storms caused by cutting down big trees. He said the training will afford the miners the opportunity to help government fight climate change which is slowly engulfing Liberia. Speaking further, Mr. Willabo said the Liberia Forest Sector is highly threatened and something has to be done to save the forest.
He also pointed out that the problem of deforestation in the mining sector has become alarming and something must be done to minimize it. He said Liberia has about 40% of forest reserves and there is a need to reduce the cutting down of trees especially the forest trees because the trees need us just as we need them because they give fresh air or oxygen; noting that the cutting down of trees affects animals and causes them to migrate to other areas.
He emphasized the need for the cooperatives to practice what they have learned if they wish to succeed especially the land reclamation. The refill of pits according to Minister Willabo is meant to prepare the land for other uses after mining especially agriculture and also provide safety for animals and human beings as well as a clean environment.
Speaking on use of dangerous substances especially mercury to mine, Willabo called on the miners to inform the ministry if they see anyone using any chemical specially mercury because it has very negative impact on the human kind especially women. He said most people found deformed nowadays derives from the use of these dangerous chemicals and said mercury is a chemical that stays under the earth for years and may travel through creeks and rivers and when people or women drink water from these rivers, it affects the child in many ways; sometimes the child is dull or cripple and advised the miners against use of these chemicals.
He emphasized the need for the cooperatives to practice what they have learned if they wish to succeed especially the land reclamation. The refill of pits according to Minister Willabo is meant to prepare the land for other uses after mining especially agriculture and also provide safety for animals and human beings
Also speaking, Deputy Mines and Energy Minister for Planning and Human Resources Development Carlton S. Miller thanked members of the cooperatives for what they have done. He said government attaches great interest in formalizing the artisanal mining sector, as such; the ministry will do all it can to assist and ensure that the process succeeds. He called on the miners to do away with vices that will create confusion and bring division among them
The proposed cooperatives include Jedepo Mining and Agriculture Cooperative of Sinoe County and Gbebo Agriculture and Mining Cooperative in Grand Gedeh County.