The General Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners (GNASSM), Godwin Armah says the Okyehene referring to government’s community mining program as illegal mining in disguise is not wrong.
Speaking in an interview, Mr. Armah intimated that the Okyenhene’s concerns regarding people perpetuating illegality behind the program are genuine.
“People are hiding behind community mining and perpetuating illegality. Any such activity that goes on in areas that have not been earmarked by the Minerals Commission and the Ministry of Lands is illegal. This is just like galamsey.
Godwin Armah
“The Okyenhene’s concerns are genuine. People just post the President’s stickers around and begin to mine illegally. These people with no licence whatsoever are mostly supported by their District Chief Executives. The Okyenhene is not wrong at all to refer to community mining as illegal mining in disguise.”
Godwin Armah
His comments come on the back of the Okyenhene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin saying;the program;which is to regulate illegal small-scale mining nationwide is rather degrading lands and causing pollution to water bodies.
Also, the General Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners said;they are backing Okyenhene, who has threatened to resist the government’s community mining program.
The Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council yesterday, March 5, 2021 threatened to resist the government’s community mining program instituted in the Akyem area and other places in Ghana. GNASSM
According to the traditional council, the program which was introduced to regulate illegal small-scale mining nationwide has rather;further degraded lands and caused pollution to water bodies in the Abuakwa area.
Okyehene to campaign against Program
The overlord of Akyem Abuakwa, who was addressing the Eastern Regional Minister, Seth Acheampong,;who paid a courtesy call on him said he will personally lead a campaign against the program;since it has become worse than the illegal small-scale mining it was seeking to address.
“Just recently, I was here when the sector minister came talking about community mining. And I told him point-blank not to come and deceive the chiefs;because;there is nothing better in community mining because it is similar to galamsey. They use the same method to cause destruction to the land but just that this has been described as a policy from government.
“We are coming to rise up against that policy. And we will not agree to the community mining initiative because if the Birim becomes polluted,;the blame is not brought to the doorstep of the MCE but the chiefs and the President.”
Okyehene Ofori Panin
Moreover, Okyehene who also raised concerns about uncovered pits;which have been left unreclaimed called on government to immediately engage the traditional council on a reclamation policy.
“There are a lot of uncovered pits and lands that have not been reclaimed across the communities;that are dangerous to human lives especially our children. We want to have a meeting with you for us to get a reclamation policy.”
Okyehene Ofori Panin
He further revealed that, Mr Peter Amewu and the former Minister of Lands came to launch a reclamation program;which they have not heard anything about. He said, it is not under the leadership of the President and the NPP;that there will be the destruction of lands and water bodies,;so they need to put a stop to it.
