Banning all mining activities is a lazy man’s approach to ending galamsey – Small Scale miners
The Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners (GNASSM) have vowed to take on any association that is pushing for a total ban on all forms of mining in the country.
Members of the association are still recuperating from the 2017 ban on all mining activities, GNASSM has revealed.
The association’s cry is due to calls from various quarters including heads of religious bodies insisting that all mining activities should be banned in the fight against illegal mining.
This call has been sparked due to the ravaging effects of illegal mining on Ghana‘s environment.
GNASSM during an engagement with the press in the Ashanti Region through the General Secretary of the association, Godwin Armah revealed the association’s resolve to resist such attempts targeted at their businesses.
The association also admitted the current plight of the Ghanaian environment due to illegal mining activities and said it is committed to battling those engaged in that.
According to GNASSM, a total ban on mining is an insensitive and lazy man’s approach to addressing illegal mining issues.
“GNASSM believes that, the regulation of the small-scale mining sector should be a shared responsibility between the Government and the Association together with all other stakeholders and that recent calls by sections of the public for a ban on the small-scale mining sector is preposterous, insensitive and a lazy man’s approach to the issue,” he stated.
A community enforcement approach was proffered by the association as they opined that illegal mining is a national issue stemming from the local level hence the need for communities to be properly organized to manage to mine to curb this menace.
The formation of a committee consisting of traditional rulers, religious leaders, the youth as well as small-scale miners to address issues related to mining in collaboration with those managing mining in the districts.
