We’ll demonstrate despite Akufo-Addo’s assurances – Small Scale Miners

The Concerned Small Scale Miners Union of Ghana (CSSMUG) has said it will not back down on its planned ‘Ku me Preko’ demonstration, slated for Tuesday, June 26, 2018 despite the President’s latest assurances given on the ban on small scale mining.

President Akufo Addo has assured that the ban on small scale mining which has been in force in the country for about a year, as a measure to deal with illegal mining popularly know as “galamsey”, will soon be lifted.

Addressing a sensitization workshop for traditional rulers and the clergy on illegal mining in Ghana, organized by the Ministry of Chieftancy, President Akufo Addo indicated that shortly, government will issue a statement, “setting out a comprehensive roadmap including the lifting of the ban to deal on a permanent bases this threat to the present and future health of our nation”.

But the union contends the President still lives in the realm of uncertainty, and hence his assurances will not suffice their demands now.

In a statement issued by the Union and signed by its President, Rooney Osei Bempah said:”The CSSMUG wishes to place on record that, the President’s announcement, apart from being intangible, at its best, only heightens our anxiety and fuels our mistrust in the government in keeping to its own pronouncements after it failed to honor several similar promises.”

The statement added: “Nothing short of the announcement of an exact date when the ban would be lifted would get us to rescind our decision to demonstrate on the said day.”

The union insists it has satisfied all regulations in accordance with the Public Order Act, and satisfied all requirements with the Ashanti Regional Police Command in relation to the upcoming march in the Ashanti regional capital.

Thousands of affected small scale miners are expected to pour onto the streets to protest against the government on the day.