‘Illegal miners’ accuse leaders of taking bribe to call off demo

Members of Ghana National Association of Small Miners (GNASSM) have accused their leadership of taking bribes from the government to call off a planned demonstration.

They have accused their Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Association and other functional executives of GNASSM of taking monies from the Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Hon. John Peter Amewu hence, the decision to cancel their “All Die Be Die’ protestation.

The Association earlier announced over five thousand of their members across the country will storm the Ashanti Regional capital Kumasi on Tuesday May 23 to protest the ban on small scale mining.

They later communicated to members that they have rescinded the decision after a meeting with the minister in Kumasi a day before the protestation.

Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. Mike Gizo explained to journalists after fruitful deliberations with government, the Association taught it prudent to hold on the demonstration for a while.

According to him, the minister assured government will reconsider lifting the ban to ensure members of small scale miners resume work on their sites.

But the explanations appear not to have gone down well with some members accusing the Regional Mr. Frank Osei Chairman, the PRO and some functional executives of the Association of taking money to and calling of the protest under bizarre circumstances.

“We know them one by one. They have taken money from government. Until they esign, we will continue to pressure them” they alleged to mynewsgh.com reporter.

“Because they are card-bearing members of New Patriotic Party (NPP), they do not want us to demonstrate against the President and NPP” they claimed.

They indicate that the minister in a working visit told Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II government is not against mining rather illegal mining.