The National Vice President of Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners (GNASSM) Mr. Sampson Kofi Wiredu has expressed worries about Ghanaian Politicians who have involved themselves in illegal mining activities and are destroying water bodies, lands, and other resources in the country.
According to Mr. Wiredu, some of these Politicians in the country have involved themselves in the galamsey business and the same politicians pretend to condemn the Small Scale Mining in the country.
He added that the Small Scale Miners have some setup rules that regulate its members and that non is permitted to do anything contrary to the mining rules. He revealed that there’s a committee that always makes sure members’ lands have been reclaimed and members well protected.
Speaking to the press during an end of the year 2020 fundraising and awards night event at the Kumasi Golden Tulip organized by the Ashanti regional chapter of the GNASSM, he said, they are going to work in accordance with the minerals commission law so that the government will not ban Small Scale Mining activities again in the country.
Mr. Wiredu however urged such politicians and people who engage in such illegalities to desist from it and rather join the mainstream through the legal process. He finally urged members of GNASSM to get united so that a common goal is achieved.
In addition, Alhaji Philip Bawa, a member of the Ashanti regional GNASSM Council of Elders also appealed to the government to let the Small Scale Miners executive their own affairs to control the small scale mining activities to help acquire quality mining in the country.
“Kindly allow us to do it because we have what it takes. Stop soldiers and other securities from disturbing and extorting money from us. Our task force are abled men who do it better”, he said.
Meanwhile, some members of the Ashanti Region Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners also expressed their worry over how some government officials keep on intimidating them in their work. They however pleaded with President Nana Addo to put up measures that could help stop such bullies.
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Finally, Mr. Frank Osei, the Ashanti regional chairman of the association giving the
keynote address commended members for their commitment despite the Covid-19 crisis. He expressed worries over how people classify illegal mining(galamsey) and legal mining as one thing.
Explaining further, Mr. Osei said the small-scale miners are registered and are known through the legal process, whiles the illegal miners (galamsey) are those who do it without any legal approval and expertise. He however appealed to the
public to desist from merging the two.
