Former Vice President and 2028 flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has engaged the Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners (GNASSM) as part of consultations on policies for the mining sector ahead of the 2028 general elections.
At the engagement, Dr Bawumia indicated that concerns raised by small-scale miners would form the basis of the mining component of his 2028 manifesto, signalling an intention to involve industry stakeholders in shaping the NPP’s next policy blueprint for the sector.
He said the views and experiences of the Association were important to the formulation of practical policies for small-scale mining and called on the miners to help identify the challenges confronting responsible operators in the industry.
Dr Bawumia also used the engagement to explain the growing national attention on Ghana’s gold industry. He pointed to the Domestic Gold Buying Programme as one of the policy initiatives that had brought gold matters into sharper focus.
According to him, the Domestic Gold Buying Programme, which he described as a novel policy, has subsequently evolved into the operations of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod).
The former Vice President said developments in the gold sector had generated considerable public interest in how Ghana manages its mineral resources, the role of the state in gold trading and the benefits that should accrue to the country from its gold wealth.
He also identified illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, as one of the major issues that had drawn public attention to the mining sector.
Dr Bawumia, however, cautioned against putting responsible small-scale miners and illegal miners in the same category.
“Responsible small-scale miners are not the same as illegal miners,” he said.
The distinction, he indicated, was important in developing policies that support legitimate small-scale mining while addressing activities that undermine the environment and the country’s mining regulations.
Dr Bawumia subsequently sought the support and input of GNASSM in addressing the challenges facing the sector, assuring the Association that many of the concerns raised could be resolved.
He said what was required was the political will to implement the necessary measures.
The engagement is expected to provide an opportunity for small-scale miners to contribute directly to the formulation of the NPP’s proposed mining policies ahead of the 2028 elections.
For the Association, the emphasis on consultation could give operators a stronger voice in discussions on the future of the sector, particularly on policies affecting legitimate small-scale mining and the broader gold value chain.
He urged the miners to continue engaging with policymakers and providing practical input on the challenges confronting their businesses, stressing that their concerns could be addressed with the requisite political will.
