By Philip Antoh
The government of Ghana, has announced its intention to sell gold that has been confiscated from illegal mining operations.
The proceeds from this initiative, will be allocated towards the restoration of lands that have been damaged and the purification of polluted water sources.
This information was disclosed by Senior Presidential Advisor, Joyce Bawah Mogtari, during an interview on April 20.
She highlighted that the Ghana Gold Board is actively working to prevent illegally mined gold from infiltrating the legal market.
The funds generated from these sales, will be directed towards environmental restoration efforts, which include cleaning up rivers and rehabilitating forests that have suffered due to illegal mining activities.
Ms. Bawah Mogtari, expressed her enthusiasm regarding the innovative ideas being developed by young individuals aimed at aiding in the restoration of forests and the purification of water.
Furthermore, she indicated that the Gold Board will adhere to international standards for tracing the origins of gold, akin to the measures taken against conflict diamonds, to ensure that illegal gold does not enter global markets.
Ghana’s gold exports are estimated to be around $5 billion each year, with a significant portion associated with illegal mining practices that do not contribute to the country’s development. She underscored the importance of putting an end to such exports.