Lands Minister Assures Ghanaian Small Scale Miners

The Minister  for Lands and Natural Resources, Alhaji Inusah Fuseini has given the assurance that operations of the Inter-Ministerial Taskforce to check Illegal Small Scale Mining's is targeted primarily at weeding out all foreign nationals operating in the small scale mining sector  to provide  more opportunities for  Ghanaians to enter the industry.

 
The Sector Minister who chairs the Special Inter-Ministerial Taskforce said the over-riding objective of the force was to inject sanity into the small scale mining sector through the elimination of illegal operators, strengthen the regulatory framework and facilitate the institutionalisation of sound environmental management practises in the mining industry in Ghana.

'We need to critically address the growing fatalities arising from the build up of harmful substances like mercury dumped into our rivers and water bodies as well as rapid decimation of our forest resources through the use of heavy-duty excavators brought in by these illegal foreign operators' said Alhaji Fuseini

He made the revelation when National Executives of the National Association of Small Scale Miners (NASSM) paid a courtesy call on him to discuss pertinent issues relating to the operations of the Inter-Ministerial Taskforce and other areas of possible collaboration between the Ministry and the Association.

The sector Minister reiterated his commitment to deepen the Ministry's partnership  with NASSM for the effective  policing and regulation of the artisanal  small scale mining  sector and  stressed      that the collaboration was critical to ensure that the nation's natural resources was  managed in  manner that would benefit succeeding generations.

He added that government was seriously considering an arrangement under which the members of the association will be provided with requisite capital and appropriate technology or machinery on favourable terms to enhance their recovery rates as well as grow their businesses.

Responding to concerns raised on alleged brutalities and destruction of mining equipment seized during the Taskforce's operations, Alhaji Fuseini revealed that the National Security, Co-ordinators of the operation, have been given clear instructions 'to hand over all suspects to the District Police for prosecution and move all impounded mining infrastructure to designated holding areas and not to burn or dismantle any equipment'.

He added that all foreign nationals arrested for illegal mining will also be screened by the District Police before they are conveyed to Ghana Immigration Service for deportation.

Speaking on behalf of the Association, Mr Francis Opoku, the Public Relations Officer of the Small Scale Miners applauded the President's initiative against the galamsey menace and conveyed their unflinching support for the Taskforce's operations.

Mr. Opoku welcomed Alhaji Fuseini's advise for the Association to request the Minerals Commission for an Office to be used as NASSM Secretariat and appealed to the Minister to consider including representatives of the association on the District Mining Committees being established in all mining communities nationwide.