It is reported that the government’s mercury-free machines to be used for mining in the country have arrived.
Per a video circulating on social media, these machines are yet to be outdoored by the government
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, announced the government’s intensified strategy to combat illegal mining, by introducing mercury-free machines to eradicate the use of harmful mercury in mining operations.
During a briefing with members of the media, as part of a renewed effort to tackle the devastating effects of illegal small-scale mining (galamsey), the Lands Minister outlined the government’s dual approach, which involves both the enforcement of strict regulations and the reform of the small-scale mining sector.
He explained that the ongoing battle against illegal mining is built on two main pillars: reformative measures and law enforcement.
A key component of the reformative strategy is the issuance of mercury-free machines to miners, which is expected to significantly reduce the pollution of water bodies caused by the use of harmful chemicals in gold extraction.
When miners use mercury to amalgamate gold, the mercury is mixed with sediment and then washed away. This mercury can enter rivers and streams directly. Mercury can also enter water bodies indirectly through atmospheric deposition. When mercury is released into the air from mining activities, it can settle into water bodies through rainfall, per research.