Association of Women in Mining calls for more support for women in the sector
Association of Women in Mining (ASWiM) a wing of the Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners is calling for more support for women in artisanal and small-scale gold mining.
The group argues that to advance gender equality in Artisanal Small-Scale Mining in Ghana, key governance issues pertaining to the effectiveness of policy and legal instruments to measure process must be looked at.
In light of this, they have made some proposals they believe must be given consideration especially because of the key role women play in the sector.
Victoria Adobea Guerrieri is the Coordinator of ASWiM, speaking at a press conference stated that they expected the “Allocation of at least 30% of economically viable lands for women through individual concessions or group co-operatives. These lands should be geologically investigated to ascertain their viability prior to allocation. This could be implemented on a pilot basis and upscaled.”
Adding to their proposal she called for “Provision support for ASWiM’s outreach programmes for Women Empowerment and Emancipation”
The press conference was organised by the Association of Women in Mining with support from Friends of the Nation, Oxfam and Ford Foundation.
“Support training programmes on mercury-free technology, health and safety, site management, financial management, leadership, diversified livelihoods and Support for child labour advocacy”
She further lauded the partnership between the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Agricultural Development Bank, ADB with plans of providing some loan facilities to small scale miners in the country.
Under the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners (GNASSM) is the women’s wing namely, artisanal small-scale women in mining (ASWiM); which oversees all activities of women in the value-chain of artisanal small-scale mining.
ASWiM focuses especially on advocacy and capacity building in the aversion of the menace of Child Labour, and support for the vast vulnerable ‘kolikoli’ women suffering and abused in the value-chain of ASM.
Source: Citinewsroom
