Small Scale miners to form political party

The Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners (GNASSM) has declared their intention to form a political party, indicating that the country’s two major political parties; New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have both failed to front for their interest.

The move, according to the Acting General Secretary for the newly formed party, Mr Kwabena Owusu, is to fiercely contest the main political parties in the country.

In a statement issued and signed by members of a committee tasked to facilitate the registration of the party, it stated that there have been deliberate attempts by past and present governments to stifle our business with stringent policies, the recent being the ban on Small Scale Mining.

He said small-scale miners in the country are unhappy about government’s decision to extend the ban on small-scale mining by three more months hence the decision to champion their cause.

The government through the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, John Peter Amewu, announced the extension of the of the temporary ban which seeks to allow water bodies and lands that have been destroyed as a result of mining to be regenerated.

Mr. Kwabena Owusu speaking to Otec news explained they could not fathom why the large-scale mining companies are still operating when in fact they all engaged in the same trade.

“Government is taking us for granted and has allowed its decision to affect us negatively. It’s about time they hear us else we would be forced to form our own political party with our huge members because any political party that comes to power does not support us” he said.

“We have been motivated by the over 1 million active members scattered across 8 regions of the country and concluded on forming our own political party to champion our interest,” he added.

He hinted that they have already begun all the necessary legal requirements and hope to announce a name for the party in two weeks time.

“Nana Addo should talk to his minister Amewu to settle the issue because already small-scale miners have regretted voting for the NPP and that is why we want to form our own political party to also have a say in the country,” he stressed.

Read full text of their concerns below

FORMATION OF POLITICAL PARTY – GNASSM

The Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners (GNASSM) has taken note of the deliberate attempts by government (both NDC & NPP, past and present) to stifle our business with stringent policies, the recent being the ban on Small Scale Mining.

Our businesses have experienced yet the most tortuous times in the past nine months under President Nana Akufo Addo, who ironically trumpets his commitment to developing the private sector with friendly policies.

We have been motivated by the over 1 million active members scattered across 8 regions of the country and concluded on forming our own political party to champion our interest.

We have already began all the necessary legal requirements and hope to announce a name for the party in two weeks time.

The political class has failed us and we will no longer sit unconcerned for our constitutional rights to be trampled upon.

We wish to call on all well meaning Ghanaians and all those who feed from the Small Scale Mining to join this course to rescue our legitimate business.

Long live Small Scale Mining

Long live GNASSM

Long live Ghana

Signed

Nana Biribireba Boateng (Chairman, Political Affairs Committee – GNASSM)

Kwabena Owusu (Secretary, Political Affairs Committee -GNASSM)