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Gov’t to ban importation of mercury by end of 2017

The Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Professor Frimpong Boateng explained that the ban will ensure that the use of mercury in the country is reduced.

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This was disclosed by the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Professor Frimpong Boateng.

He was speaking at a media briefing ahead of a training workshop for small scale miners and journalists on proper mining methods.

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He explained that the ban will ensure that the use of mercury is reduced which will also decrease the level of contamination of water resources in the country.

“Importation is under the Ministry of Trade but inspection at the ports is done by the EPA, but we do not want to say we are not going to allow mercury to come into the country when we have not discussed all the issues with the Ministry of Trade.”

“We have started discussions already and I do not things are going to take too long and things have become a little bit easier because Ghana has signed onto the Minamata protocol. This is a protocol that bans the use of mercury in the countries that have signed the agreement,” he added.

Before the fight against galamsey started the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) had been complaining about the huge financial investments it has been making for the purification of the polluted water resources.

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But the fight against illegal mining has reduced to the turbidity levels of the water. This means they are spending fewer amounts of money in treating the polluted water.

Professor Frimpong Boateng said he was optimistic the country will save more if the ban is enforced.

The move is expected to take effect by the end of 2017.

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