Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. George Mireku Duker, has asked the small-scale miners in the country to ensure their mining activities match their acquired licenses.
Speaking at a meeting with the Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners (GNASSM),;he said the government is expecting the legal small-scale miners to engage in responsible and sustainable mining.
“Your mining activities should match your licenses acquired.”
Mireku Duker
The minister further told members of the Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners that, government has not banned small-scale mining.
Based on this, he asked members of the association to return to work and mine responsibly.
The Deputy Minister also reiterated President Nana Akufo-Addo’s love for mining, adding that mining support Ghana’s economy hence, the government has not and will not ban mining in the country. However, the government, Mr. Duker said, would not condone irresponsible mining.
The Ministry, he said, would soon set up a task force to monitor the operations of miners across the country.
“We want you to do the right things, drop your old self and take on your new clothes in mining.”
Mireku Duker
Gov’t committed to working with GNASSM
Speaking on the community mining scheme,; the Deputy Minister, said government would engage the Association on the scheme to ensure inclusiveness at all levels of mining operations.
The minister said the government is committed to work hand in hand with GNASSM therefore it will involve them in community mining. He subsequently cautioned members of the association to stop patronizing foreign nationals to indulge in irresponsible mining.
On Operation Halt, Mr. Mireku Duker said the Military was assigned a specific task to protect water bodies and forest reserves and advised members of the Association to display their addresses in their respective concessions to prevent unwarranted encounters with the Military task force.
The Deputy Minister also announced a yearly Award scheme for the best Small-Scale mining concessions, an initiative which will begin this year to demonstrate best practices and encourage other miners to emulate.
The award, he revealed, will commence hopefully in November this year.
Mr. Mireku Duker further revealed the ministry of lands and natural resources together with the minerals commission will meet small-scale miners quarterly for dialogue on ways to improve upon mining in the country.
Miners losing investment
Also speaking at the meeting, the Vice President of the Association, Sampson Kofi Wiredu, expressed worry about the activities of some soldiers engaged in the Operations Halt, saying miners were losing their investment as a result.
He noted that the assurances of the Deputy Minister has given the Association the renewed interest and confidence in the government and the sector Minister to safeguard legitimate miners.
The Members of the Association further pledged their commitment to support government win the fight against illegal mining.
The members were drawn from the various mining districts including Wa, Tarkwa, Babiani, Dunkwa -on- Offin and Akim Oda.
