Gov’t Will Not Ban Responsible Small-Scale Mining – Minister Assures

…But Calls For A Collective Action To Protect Water Bodies

A Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, George Mireku Duker, has assured, government would not place a ban on responsible small-scale mining across the country, despite swelling calls for a total ban.

He indicated that, small scale miners, who have proper documentations from the Minerals Commission, will continue to mine, so long as they do so responsibly.

This assurance, comes in the wake of latest discussion on small scale mining resurrected, following concerns by the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) that they are unable to process a percent of its raw water for consumption, due to worsening turbidity level of major water bodies.

Speaking on Accra-based UTV’s ‘Mpu Ne Mpu’ programme, monitored by The Anchor, the Deputy Minister, said government would not collapse operations of those engaged in responsible mining, adding that the current administration, will explore other means to make mining in the small scale sector better and protect it.

Mr Duker, who doubles as Member of Parliament (MP) Tarkwa Nsuaem, argues Ghanaians must necessarily benefit from their natural resources.

“Small scale miners who have license from the Minerals Commission and mining responsibly, we want to assure you that we will not collapse your business, we will make it better and protect your work, we will explore better ways to make your work better so that the Ghanaian who is blessed with gold benefits from it”, he asserted.

The Deputy Minister in-charge of Mines, said Ghana, having mined gold for many decades, have allowed foreigners to mine all its gold and export out of the country.

Minerals Commission Rejects Ban

Aside the deputy minister, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Minerals Commission, Martin Kwaku Ayisi, has also kicked against calls for a ban small scale mining, saying it will affect gold production, which supports the economy immensely.

He stated that, the focus should be on regulating unlicensed mining activities, rather than imposing a blanket ban on the entire small-scale mining sector.

“The discussion is about illegal mining. In other words, persons or individuals who don’t have all the authorisation to go and work and they are working, which is illegal.”

“We need to separate it from several others who have obtained licenses and are working. So when you say we should ban small-scale mining lawfully, I have a problem with that,” he said during JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday September 7.

Local Champions

In the case of Mr Duker, he said government wants to build local champions in the sector, so they can take advantage of the industry for the benefit of the Ghanaian people.

“We cannot continue to give our gold to foreigners to mine and take the gold to their countries. It is time to build local champions within the industry and that is what we will do”, he added.

He said, despite distraction, especially from the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), the government is unperturbed.

Mr Duker, charged the small-scale miners, to disregard the antics of the opposition group.

The Tarkwa Nsuaem MP, said the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, who is seeking to be president, has them in his vision for the country and will do everything to ensure that Ghanaians benefit from what belongs to them, encourage reasonable and protect their businesses.

“We will not be swayed by the NDC. When the NDC comes to you and tell you they love you, tell them you heard what their leader said on radio, you heard what he said on television and that you know they do not love you.

It is we, the NPP, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, say he loves small scale miners…he wants you as a Ghanaian benefit from the gold and he will ensure and protect and encourage responsible mining”.

He further threw jabs at the flagbearer of the NDC, John Dramani Mahama, for his comments in the run up to the 2020 general election.

In a message to the ex-president through his colleague MP for the Juaboso, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Deputy Minister said, Mr Mahama, had no such power and integrity to say he will grant amnesty to jailed illegal miners.

“I want to tell Kwabena Mintah Akandoh to tell Mr Mahama that he has no power and integrity to stand for power. Because as someone who has been president before, can say in public that he will grant amnesty to jailed illegal miners, then it means, he is working to thwart the effort of the president in the fight against the menace.

He doesn’t want Ghanaians to adhere to what the president has said. We have a former president, who doesn’t want the development of the country”, he said in Twi dialect.

Source: Anchorghana.com