Communications Director of Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners (GNASSM), Dr Abdul Alhassan, has revealed that the law of the country does not make it possible for miners to operate along river bodies.

According to him, the law gives “recognisance prospecting and leases to mine” in the forest. As such, describing the small scale miners operations to be illegal doesn’t bode well for those engaged in it with the required licenses.

Dr Alhassan stated that by every indication, it is “very clear those who are in the forest are not small scale miners”.

“As an association, we are very sad about this whole issue; reason being that, there are many people in this country who always blame the small scale miners and always call it illegal small scale mining. But per the law, there is no law in this country which gives licenses for small scale miners to mine on river bodies, there is no law in this country which gives small scale mining licences to mine in forest reserves. So, who are those mining in these forest reserves and river bodies? But anytime the conversation comes up, people describe all the activity as illegal small scale mining.”
Dr Abdul Alhassan

Dr Alhassan indicated that although illegal mining isn’t exclusively carried out by small scale miners, they are not “entirely free from this illegal activity”. He concerted that there are some recalcitrant persons who engage in it.

“But the riveted small scale miners we have, it is very difficult for us to admit that this illegal activities we are part of it. But sometimes, we need to agree that the devastation and the destruction of these water bodies affect everybody in this country and we must take it as a holistic approach.”
Dr Abdul Alhassan

Resolving issues confronting fight against galamsey

Commenting on why the fight against illegal mining has been largely impossible, Dr Alhassan stated that it is due to the complicity of some high-profile officials in the country. To ensure the fight against the act is successful, he called for thorough investigation to be undertaken to find out who the “beneficiaries” are.

“Look this fight against galamsey, we are losing it because we don’t want to speak the truth… Because there are big wigs who are behind it. Those people who always go to arrest and parade them, are they the financiers? Because in mining, it’s a whole lot of money which you put in there… So, if you go on to arrest the one who [mines] for survival, leaving the people who buy these equipment… and we are blaming the youth who are going there for their daily bread, it will create a whole lot of mess.”
Dr Abdul Alhassan

The Communications director for GNASSM highlighted that all and sundry must see the activity as a threat to the nation. By doing this, he explained that government will be faced with solutions to control the activities of ‘galamsey’ operators.

“Look, authorities must speak the truth because we have regulatory bodies and executives who are controlling the security agencies. Are we sure this military we send to the field and these national security personnel who go to the field are doing the right thing? If chanfangs are on river bodies, the chiefs cannot exempt themselves… Until we all admit and stop defending ourselves and speak the truth, we will not get the [results].”
Dr Abdul Alhassan