What John Dramani Mahama’s 120 days social contract says about fight against illegal mining

There has been a debate as to whether the president gave timelines with regard to the fight against illegal mining while in opposition.

While some persons in the opposition political party insist that the president said he will end illegal mining in his 120 days in office.

Government spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu has clarified that the president never gave any timelines in the fight against illegal mining in Ghana.

But what exactly does the 120 social contract say about illegal mining?

The eleven-page document, which spells out what the president intended to do in his first 120 days in office, explicitly speaks about illegal mining.

The document talks about what the president’s plan was in the fight, especially against illegal mining in forest reserves and the issuing of licenses.

Per the document, the government’s commitment to the illegal mining fight is quoted as “Ban illegal and new mining activities in forest reserves. Roll out our ‘Tree for Life’
and Blue Water Initiative’ to heal and sustainably harness the environment by turning areas and water bodies degraded by illegal mining into economic and ecological recovery hubs”.

Per the promise in the 120 social contract, the President while addressing the nation when he met the media said “No license has been issued for mining in forest reserves since I resumed office“.