Total ban on small-scale mining amounts to punishing law-abiding miners – Dr Steve Manteaw

Respected Policy Analyst and co-chair of the Ghana Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (GHEITI), Dr Steve Manteaw, has objected to calls by a cross-section of Ghanaians on the Government to place a temporary ban on all forms of small-scale mining as a first step to tackling the resurgence of illegal small-scale mining( galamsey) that has ravaged forest reserves and polluted important rivers.

Dr Manteaw explained that a moratorium( temporary ban) on all forms of mining will amount to punishing legal, law-abiding miners, stressing that he is convinced that the menace of illegal small-scale mining can be tackled effectively with a ban.

“I am against an outright ban or moratorium. The last time it happened, our small-scale production shot up instead of decline. Besides, we cannot punish those operating legally and responsibly for the atrocities of a notorious few who are backed by political godfathers,” he wrote in a statement shared on social media.

For him, a more effective way to address the illegalities is for National Security to use its intelligence to expose people in high places involved in the menace and deal with them ruthlessly according to law, adding the Office of the President led by the President himself must sanction the operations of the National Security to deal with the high and mighty involved in galamsey.

“No country has ever retained much value in its extractive industry by being mere spectator, while multi-nationals take the commanding heights of the industry. It is my conviction that, the illegalities and wanton pollution of our water bodies can be curbed without a moratorium, which in the past only provided cover for party people to mine.

READ ALSO: Jinapor, Damongo MP Clash over rural electrification project in West Gonja

I’m rather for covert operations by our national security apparatus that target people in high places. Making examples of them will send the signal that we are serious about stopping galamsey. But this approach will have to be endorsed by the highest office of the land, given the high probability of casualties coming from that office, or close to it,” he noted.

There have been renewed calls on the Government to take urgent steps to end illegal mining after previous schemes to stop it failed. The groups have called on the Government to place a temporary ban on mining as a prerequisite to getting illegal and irresponsible miners out of the way. However, Dr Manteaw, who has considerable expertise in the mining sector, thinks that such a ban will be unnecessary.

Read his full statement below:

GHANA’S ASGM PRODUCTION SHOT UP WHEN GOVERNMENT DECLARED THE LAST MORATORIUM

I am against an outright ban or moratorium. The last time it happened, our small-scale production shot up instead of decline.

Besides, we cannot punish those operating legally and responsibly for the atrocities of a notorious few who are backed by political godfathers.

No country has ever retained much value in its extractive industry by being mere spectator, while multi-nationals take the commanding heights of the industry.

It is my conviction that, the illegalities and wanton pollution of our water bodies can be curbed without a moratorium, which in the past only provided cover for party people to mine.

I’m rather for covert operations by our national security apparatus that target people in high places. Making examples of them will send the signal that we are serious about stopping galamsey. But this approach will have to be endorsed by the highest office of the land, given the high probability of casualties coming from that office, or close to it.

READ ALSO: Ghanaians disappointed in Akufo-Addo - Hassan Ayariga

In short, it all begins and ends at the doorstep of that office.

NADAA must demonstrate that he meant it, when he put his job on the line or forever be remembered as “President do little” to borrow his own words.