Small Scale Miners Appeal for Government Intervention
A group of responsible small-scale miners in the Ashanti region has appealed to President John Dramani Mahama and Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, for urgent assistance in accessing mining concessions. According to Felix Yaw Andam, spokesperson for the group, many small-scale miners are struggling to secure concessions due to limited availability and large-scale mining leases held by multinational companies and indigenous Ghanaians.
This has affected over three million youth employed in direct and indirect jobs in the small-scale mining sector. Andam expressed concern about harassment and intimidation from security operatives and police at mining sites. Despite this, the group pledged support for the government’s fight against illegal mining (galamsey).
The miners contribute significantly to local revenue through taxes, which support development projects and non-government staff in local assemblies. Andam urged the government to assist small-scale miners in accessing mining concessions to operate sustainably.
Speaking to the Ashanti regional secretary of the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners, Mr Adu Gyamfi on the concerns raised by the the small scale mining group , Mr Adu Gyamfi threw his weight to their frustrations and said as the association’s Ashanti regional chapter of the Ghana National Association of small-scale miners, he support the call on the government to do all it could to make available small scale mining concession block – out for responsible mining to create more employment opportunities to the youth within the mining enclaves .
