Minerals Commission warns small scale miners

Minerals Commission of Ghana has issued a stern warning to Artisanal and Small Scale Mining members to immediately desist from the habit of invading the concession of AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) at Obuasi in the Ashanti Region.

This attitude, according to the Commission, was not only threatening the security and peace in the area, but adversely affecting the commercial operations of the gold mining company.

The warning comes after AngloGold Ashanti Ghana Limited successfully completed the process of surrendering 60% of its Obuasi concession to government.

AngloGold Ashanti continues to complain about invasion of its mine by illegal miners leading to damage of parts of the ore body and important infrastructure of the Obuasi mine, raising the risk that the site will be permanently damaged.

Speaking on Citi FM, Chief Executive Officer of Minerals Commission, Dr. Tony Aubyn, said the reason for which the small scale miners went underground was no more tenable.

“You don’t have any place to work does not give you the right to do so,” he said.

“We are asking that our brothers and sisters come and take advantage of what we have now so they can live in harmony with the company.

“…so it is an appeal to our friends and brothers who are said to be down there to take advantage of the ground that has been given out so they can also have something to do. We are actually going to support them register to form co-operatives in a way that AngloGold Ashanti can also work in peace and complement the work of these small scale miners,” he stated.

Dr. Tony Aubyn added, “I believe that if they come, AngloGold Ashanti can also go beyond their current offer to probably help them in terms of training and offering them proper procedures in mining as they live together in peace.”

Meanwhile the Minerals Commission boss has stated his outfit has began the process of allocating the ceded concession to registered Artisanal and Small Scale Miners in Obuasi.

That, he noted, means that the land which was not previously used could now be put into productive use.

Out of this land, he said, “we will cede some to small scale farmers and in fact we have begun demarcating the land to the miners. So if the complain in the past was that there was no land to mine on, then now we have the land and we are working with the district assemblies and all other stakeholders to work.”