Galamsey Menace: ‘Concerns from organized labour legitimate but calls for absolute ban on small-scale mining outrageous’ - GNASSM

Members of the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners (GNASSM), Ashanti chapter, have expressed support for the government's efforts to combat illegalities in the mining industry.

According to them, they are ready to support the government in its effort to fight illegal miners who operate in forests and on water bodies.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with this reporter, Mr. Arafat Suleimana, PRO for the Ashanti GNASSM, said concerns by the various labour unions on illegal mining were legitimate. He, however, disagreed with the suggestion that there must be an absolute ban on small-scale mining.

According to him, placing a ban on small-scale mining and other legal mining activities may not solve the problem but rather worsen the plight of Ghanaians. He added that small-scale miners employ a significant percentage of the Ghanaian population, helping to reduce the unemployment rate.

Further expressing the association's commitment to help solve the issue, he pledged their readiness to join forces with the government to fight these illegalities.

For those calling for a ban on small-scale mining, Mr. Arafat urged them to come up with other pragmatic measures that could help solve the problem instead of calling for a ban on legal mining.

He further revealed the effective role of small-scale mining in Ghana's gold export by indicating that they hold a significant percentage of the mineral export, according to the Minerals Commission.

"The concerns of organized labour are legitimate, and it’s already a concern to us even before they come out. It’s unfortunate when you say total ban on all sorts of mining. Gold plays a major role in our value exchange and small-scale miners play a major part in the gold that is exported. Anyone who says gold mining doesn’t affect their lives, it’s never true. Gold exports help stabilize the cedi and that is why the Bank of Ghana is currently taking those steps with the gold to help stabilize the cedi."

He further disclosed that it was time we all took it upon ourselves as a collective responsibility to fight illegal activities.

Lastly, he warned illegal miners operating on water bodies and in forests to refrain from their activities since the small-scale miners were coming at them fiercely.

Meanwhile, a series of meetings have been held by the regional council on the next move towards addressing illegal mining activities.