The Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners (GNASSM) has said it will support government to succeed efforts at responsible and sustainable small scale mining but will not entertain any ban on legal small scale mining.
The association contended that having learnt many lessons following the NPP government’s ban on small scale mining in their first term, it will not support any ban on licensed small Scale Miners.
In a statement issued by Godwin Armah, General Secretary of GNASSM, the association said it has positioned itself well to collaborate with government and provide all the needed assistance and direction to fight illegal small scale mining menace popularly known as “Galamsey”.
President Nana AddoDankwaAkufo-Addo, during the last State of the Nation’s Address of the 7th parliament of Ghana’s 4th Republic last Tuesday, lamented that “We, who are leaders, owe it to the country to take the subject out of the party political arena and have an honest conversation about this menace to our future”.
He also underlined the employment of indecent technology in small scale mining activities that has contributed to the nation’s rapid environmental degradation and pollution.
In the face of the President’s admission that politicisation of the small scale mining sector is not the best approach to fight the menace, GNASSM believes the admission alone provides the opportunity to make amends and ensure that small scale mining is done responsibly and sustainably in Ghana.
GNASSM described as refreshing and welcoming the President admission that politicisation of the small scale mining sector is not the best approach to fight the menace which it saw as a vindication of their earlier position that depoliticisation is the only remedy to sanitize the sector and contribute meaningfully to the economy.
The association saw the President’s admonishment and posture as the reopening of a new chapter in the nation’s quest to secure responsible and sustainable small scale mining and derive the maximum benefit in the areas of revenue, employment and development.
Following the development, the association has announced that it is expecting to meet the President after the swearing-in of his second term for a possible dialogue to inform his next line of action after such opportunity, had eluded them previously.
The post GNASSM To Collaborate With Government; To fight illegal small scale mining appeared first on The Chronicle Online.
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