Following a tour of some small-scale mining corporations within the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality within the Western Region, Mr. Samuel Koku Sitsofe Anyidoho, the Chief Executive Officer of the Atta-Mills Institute, has urged Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and all individuals calling for a complete ban on small-scale mining to rethink their marketing campaign and quite deal with complementing the federal government’s efforts in combating unlawful mining (galamsey).
On Saturday, October 19, 2024, Mr. Anyidoho joined a delegation led by the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, accountable for Mines, Hon. George Mireku Duker, MP to go to some licensed small-scale mining corporations within the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality of the Western Region.
The crew visited the Tarkwa Community Mining Scheme, Mohammed Brothers Ltd, Johnson Mining Services Ltd, and Dakete Mining Company Ltd, all within the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality.
During the tour, the businesses took the delegation by means of a security induction, mining procedures by means of the shaft-rail-locomotive ore/logistics hauling system, mineral processing, and tailings administration.
Addressing the media on the finish of the tour, Mr. Koku Anyidoho famous that opposite to the general public narrative, most small-scale mining corporations are engaged in accountable and sustainable mining.
Mr. Anyidoho believes that the organizations and individuals clamouring for a complete ban on small-scale mining don’t absolutely recognize the problems at hand, as his expertise has made him understand that the galamsey menace isn’t being perpetrated by all small-scale mining corporations.
He urged members of the ‘ban small-scale mining’ brigade to not generalize the problems, because the state of affairs on the bottom doesn’t assist their claims, and promised to be an advocate for accountable small-scale miners.
“Galamsey has turn out to be a really huge concern, so it’s a disaster. Unfortunately, the discourse is that every one small-scale licenses have to be taken away. We have quacks and unhealthy folks in each occupation, however it is going to be unfair to hitch the decision with out coming right here firsthand”, he stated.
“The safety of the river our bodies is crucial, however all we see are the destroyed water our bodies and never the businesses who’re engaged in accountable small-scale mining. The discourse is that everyone with a small-scale mining license should have it revoked, however I imagine we should always separate the chaff from what is nice in order that we are able to have folks advocating for you,” he added.
Hon. George Mireku Duker, in a quick tackle to the press, defined that his constant defence and advocacy for accountable small-scale mining is in tandem along with his position as a Member of Parliament who has sworn fealty to the regulation.
According to him, so long as the nation’s legal guidelines make provision for Ghanaians to interact in small-scale mining, he’ll advance their trigger and struggle for them.
Beyond the regulation, Hon. Duker’s dedication to the small-scale mining trade is because of his absolute perception that it’s the solely means by means of which Ghanaians can develop to turn out to be house owners of large-scale mining corporations.
The Deputy Minister additionally condemned galamsey, reiterating the purpose that the federal government will proceed to struggle towards the menace.
“We can solely use possession from small-scale mining to middle-tier after which to the conglomerate. As Ghanaians, whereas we have now enacted legal guidelines to manage small-scale mining, I have to be the one championing it. Once we’ve agreed as MPs to enact legal guidelines for small-scale mining, I’ll proceed to guard that regulation. It is the rationale I carry on championing small-scale mining. I’m completely happy to see Ghanaians such as you managing a facility like this as a result of it means the advantages will stay within the nation. Employees are all Ghanaians.”
