Members of the Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Mining [GNASSM] have condemned what they termed irresponsible mining activities leading to destruction of forest reserves and water bodies.
At a media interaction in Kumasi, members of GNASSM said the association is not a law enforcement agency and thus is not able to prevent or stop the illegality in the sector.
However, GNASSM is ready with its taskforce at the various mining districts to team up with the national security apparatus to identify where illegal activities are taking place so that such people can be brought to book.
The Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners is the umbrella body for small-scale miners who have legal access to the concessions which they mine.
The national outcry on issues surrounding small scale and artisanal gold mining and the calls for total ban of the sector has been in the news years but gained currency in the past few months.
Some have argued against a total ban due to jobs the illegal mining, otherwise called galamsey, has created as well as the economic development it has brought to those involved. In addition, the generation of foreign exchange and provision of gold for the local industries and the evolution of indigenous entrepreneurs have also been advanced as positives for the sector.
The Public Relations Officer of the association, Francis Opoku, said the inability of stakeholders to differentiate the legal sector and the illegal has created a platform where both parties are judged en bloc.
He stated that, illegal miners are known to mine on rivers and other water bodies, in forest reserves and others that have not been approved by the Minerals Commission of Ghana.
The Secretary to the Association, Godwin Armah also encouraged legal, safe and environmentally friendly practices among its members and asked them to cooperate with the Minerals Commission.
He added that, through a memorandum of understanding with the University of Mines and Technology many of their members have undergone training and more of such interactions are ongoing.
“It is clear that no miner has a legal concession to mine on a river.
“Thus we suggest strongly that immediately the navy should conduct an operation on all major rivers of the country: Rivers Pra, Ankobra, Birim, Tano, Bia, Offin and Volta to stop the ongoing illegality.
“Secondly, with assistance from the Forestry Commission, the army should conduct an operation in forest reserves to flush out all such operators
“Thirdly, we suggest that, the Minerals Commission should deal with large scale companies with prospecting licenses who are parceling lands and selling it to foreigners for illegal mining.”
Godwin Armah acknowledged that there are some legal miners who wash their tailings into water bodies, and for such miners he suggested education and enforcement so that they can adopt the 3-stage pond system for tailings management.
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