Open Letter to the Citizens on why the insertion of Soldiers in Mining Companies in the past

Dear Citizens once again my sincere greetings to you all.

Beloved Citizens, the fight against illegal mining which is a thorny political problem that divides the nation has led to a misjudgment on a pact between the Ghana Chamber of Mines and the Ghana Army on the insertion of Military personnel in the location of Mining Companies. This has culminated with some persons with a mistaken belief of an act of corruption by the regime of ex-President Mahama, the high echelons of the Ghana Army and the Ghana Chamber of Mines. This situation has come to mar the very good work of both the Second Infantry Battalion in Takoradi and the huge contributions of some Stakeholders in the Western Region especially in the Ex-Wassa West District and Bibiani effective April 2002 towards national cohesion, economic and social development and the protection of the environment.

Folks, this erroneous belief of corruption might have motivated the rush in the withdrawal of the troops by a sitting President of Ghana. This situation may be attributed to lack of the real facts on the topic and or proper consideration or critical analysis on the deployment, so that the policy on the deployment of the troops was tweaked to enhance National Security.

There shall not bear false witness against thy neighbour’ is a strong declaration in the Holy Book at Exodus 20:16, which every human must obey as an order from God, so as to present the real facts especially for the documentation of the players and relevant activities in the development of the Nation in the Political history of his or her Society or Country.

Consequently, there is an urgent need to correct the mistaken belief on the deployment of the troop, since aside marring the good work of Second Infantry Battalion, Takoradi and the related Stakeholders, it has the tendency to damage the reputation of both the Ghana Army and Ex-President Mahama, who is a Presidential Candidate for the 2024 National Election for both the Presidential and Parliamentary seats/slots, hence this matter and the thorny political problem of illegal mining would be raised during the Campaign period . Thus, as stated it has a tendency to damage the reputation of maybe a very excellent Presidential material for the Nation and maybe a collateral damage to both the Ghana Army and the Ghana Chamber of Mines, both of which I have served under.

Before I expound on the topic and the related matters, it is very important to declare that I am only putting up experienced in honest historical facts, nothing but the facts so let me emphasize that this is not a submission to project the image of ex-President Mahama, who is on the ticket of the NDC Party as the Presidential Candidate for the 2024 Election.

Please pardon me to clear that, however, a very good Presidential material ex-President Mahama may be, by a default action, I cannot and I will not vote for ex-President Mahama, repeat I will not vote for him or any candidate on the ticket of the NDC. This is due to a vow I made in 1992 that over my dead body will I vote for a candidate of the NDC Party due to the bad things the PNDC, which gave birth to the NDC and was perceived or presumed as the umbrella under which the NDC erupted. That is to say the PNDC metamorphosed into the NDC in the Constitutional (Democratic) Rule just by the removal of the letter P from PNDC. So honestly, speaking I am going to vote for the Candidate with breaking the 8 is possible. Hence, as a patriotic senior citizen, I am only providing the honest story because as the Officer Commanding of the Rear Details of 2BN between November 2001 and 2002, I was the key actor that led to the deployment of the troops and between 2003 and December 2015 as Security Superintendent for Golden Star Bogoso helped in someway in 2012 through Mr Dan Owriedu, then Vice President Operations of Golden Star Resources Ghana to influence the philosophy of ex-President Mahama, who like Ex-Vice President Aliu Mahama in 2004, and Presidential Candidate Mills in 2008 was one of Golden Star Bogoso Mine’s ’graduates’ on how to deal with the menace of Galamasey operations (Small Scale Mining) , which this submission will reveal, so please take time to read for facts.

Beloved Citizens, the dogma of Transparency, Probity and Accountability of the 1992 Constitution and the Right to Information Act 2019, both require that you must know the real story that motivated your Ghana Army through the Second Infantry Battalion in Takoradi, to suggest to the Western Regional Security Council to initiate in the first quarter of 2002, for the placement (the deployment) of policemen and soldiers in the location of Mining Companies which helped the then President of Ghana in 2002, hence the then Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces to uphold, preserve, protect, and defend the 1992 Constitution which anchors the Fourth Republic, hence the interest of the Nation. The below related mail dated 14^th April 2002 from the then Chairman of the Western Regional Security Council speaks volume on the subject which will be dilated later.

Folks, as stated in the above mail combating banditry activities (armed robbery and other violent crime) motivated the deployment of combined forces of Policeman and Military effective April 2002.

Please before I present to you the circumstance or the exact incidents that led to the deployment of the troops,, let me stress that the issue of combating illegal mining which remained an unresolved or thorny issue in the Political History of Ghana, was not one of the reasons that motivated the Western Regional Security Council then in 2002 chaired Hon Joseph Boahen Aidoo, (now the CEO of COCOBOD), the Mining Companies (the Ghana Chamber of Mines) and the good people of the ex-Wassa West District through their opinion leaders the for the deployment of the troops in the location of Mining Companies effective April 2002.

At this juncture let me state that lack of understanding of the difference between Galamasey operations and illegal mining is the reason why the Galamasey operations remained a thorny issue or unresolved. So, the urgent need for understanding what is Galamasey activities so that appropriate actions are carried out to reduce it to the barest minimum level and what is termed illegal mining for remedies is sin qua non if any person wants to succeed in the fight against these two different risks, This is to say Galamasey operation for survival and illegal mining are not synonymous (the same) hence therefore not interchangeable at all. This masterpiece submission to you will substantiate the situation with excellent examples which will give you a better understanding of these two risks as national security threats.

The Circumstance that led to the Insertion of the troops in the location of Mining Companies

Fellow Citizens, between December 2001 and first quarter of 2002, the National Security especially the Western Regional Security Council was tormented with sleepiness night due to numerous serious security challenges at all fronts especially banditry activities (armed robbery, genocide, smuggling of cocoa and gold, Galamasey activities, illegal mining activities, cases of raping including the raping of the wife of an expatriate in the location of a Mining Company, precisely GMC, Tarkwa in 2002 etc).

Folks, let me brief you in the next narrations with some of major specific incidents, starting with Prestea Gold Ltd (PGL). PGL was a past Mining Company under the auspices of the SGMC but as part of the Structural Adjustment Program (SAP) and Economic Recovery Program (ERP) under the auspices of the IMF/World Bank during the regime of the PNDC, PGL was placed on the Divesture Implementation Committee and diversified in 1994 from SGMC to Barnato Exploration (Barnex) of Johannesburg Investment Group. A mining lease agreement for not lease than 30 years was signed on 20 May 1996 between the Government of Ghana and Barnex Ghana. The Agreement of the Mining lease to Barnex covered the Prestea Underground Mine and the associated surface Mining Concessions, including Calcine, Tailings etc.

Barnex spent an initial amount of over 22 Million Dollars in the acquisition of PGL and developmental works. But Barnex encountered in 1998 a very serious problem with the Underground Mine of PGL. Barnex therefore laid off the Staff after paying severance Award to them.

Barnex then in 1998 enticed Golden Star Bogoso Mine which was facing a threat of a depletion of oxide gold ore or the gold reserves in the Bogoso Concession in a very short year and so Golden Star Bogoso Mine was offered 70% interest of the Prestea Gold Project, this was followed by not least than 10million Dollars Deal between Barnex and Golden Star Bogoso Mine to be paid by Golden Star Bogoso Mine. Please, Google for Ghana Targets Barnex Deal as well as Google for Gold star Resources signs Prestea Deal with Barnex to authentic these assertions respectively. This was to enable Golden Star Bogoso Mine to operate the very long disused Prestea Underground Mine under the name New Century Mines (NCM), Prestea through an initial care and maintenance, whilst conducting Surface Mining at both Prestea Concession and the Tuampim Concession to help finance the underground mining of NCM.

Notwithstanding this situation and the fact that the subsidiary company of the State Gold Mining Corporation was sold out by the Regime of NDC2 of President JJ Rawlings to foreigners who had the Mining Lease but for some reason it was then subject to abrogation by the Government of Ghana, this was contingent on the payment of a Compensation of not less than 10 Million Dollars to Barnex by the Government of Ghana.

Folks without reaching amicable resolution on the impasse between Barnex and the Government of Ghana through the payment of the Compensation, the Government of Ghana maybe due to pressure from the ex-workers (the cadres of CDR/PDC) of SGMC and the then Hon MP of the area on the ticket of the NDC, illegally issued Mining License to the ex-workers,.

Consequently, the ex-workers unilaterally trespassed the Mining Lease of Barnex when they took over the operation of PGL under a new name of Prestea Gold Resources Ltd and unreasonably invested their severance award package into it, as an attempt to revamp a very costly underground mine.

In order for the workers to recoup their investments, they and some people mostly women of Prestea working under barons ,with the Mining License operated Galamasey operations with pick axes, spades etc under the authority of the Mining License so issued by the Government. The Galamasey operations was done at the areas of the Prestea Pit including North Shaft, 4 Bungalows, ECOMOG, some of the other Shafts including Ekoturo Shaft, Bondaye etc. Hence their Galamasey operations, which was basically a manual method of mining under the authority of the Mining License cannot be said to be illegal mining.

Though the mining activities of the ex-workers were covered by a Mining Right, the fact that the Government was yet to abrogate the Mining Lease of PGL belonging to Barnex, made their operations in the Mining Lease of Barnex to be illegal mining, notwithstanding the Mining License of Prestea Gold Resources Ltd held by them. So, by the issuance of Mining Rights or License to the ex-workers it demos an illegal act with the tacit support of the previous regime of the Government of Ghana (NDC2 regime).

To give you a further clear or correct picture on the definition of Galamasey operations which is just an artisanal or small scale mining method termed as in English and is done manually with pick axes, chisel, spade and broom etc or sluicing equipment. Let me repeat that on the surface, their Galamasey operations was legal due to the Mining License of Prestea Gold Resources Ltd (PGRL) held by them. But deep inside, their mining activity was illegal because it was in the concession of a third party namely PGL belonging to Barnex which held the Mining Lease, which was subject to either abrogation by the Ghana Government after payment of an agreed compensation otherwise ratification of the Deal between Barnex and Golden Star Bogoso Mine by the Ghana Government by new mining Lease Golden Star Bogoso Mine ..

Hence, due to the illegal act by the previous Government of Ghana (NDC2 regime) a looming potential judgment debt of not least than 10Miion Dollars, was then a threat to a cash strapped Government of Ghana by December 2000. This was at the time NDC2 was defeated by the NPP1 led by Presidential Candidate-Elect, Hon JA Kofour in the 2000 Presidential Election.

It was perceived that the government of Ghana then under the regime of NDC2 then under the tenure of President JJ Rawlings (Papa J) and then with Professor Mills as VP who then doubles as the Presidential Candidate for the 2000 Presidential election, failed to support Barnex, the owners of PGL to evict the trespassers may be a way to win more votes and the MP slot for the area, because it helped NDC to win the majority votes in Prestea at both the Presidential and Parliamentary elections in 2000. This was possible because the regime of NDC2 illegally granted mining license to the people of Prestea or the trespassers, the ex-Staff of Barnex and their associates to conduct Small Scale Mining (Galamasey activities).

Another disturbed problem was that the Administration of the Government of Ghana in 2000 also granted a Mining Right in the Concession or Mining Lease of Barnex to Prestea Sankofa Gold Ltd, a Mining Company which was a subsidiary of GNPC under the regime of PNDC/NDC 1 and NDC2 for mining the Tailings and Calcine on the concessions of PGL and spent gold ores (mining waste) or even fresh gold ore from the Galamasey operators of PG PGRL RL. Hence, the above demo a very bizarre act in the Mining Industry, committed then by Government of Ghana.

Barnex-Ghana was therefore left with a legal option of invoking the powers of the International Court of Competent Jurisdiction for Arbitration to protect her Mining Right (Lease) for a claim of not least than 10 million Dollars judgment debt payable by Ghana to Barnex. Unfortunately this was to be executed by an innocence and very young Administration of NPP, on taking over on 07 January 2001. I need to add that the matter for the abrogation of the deal between Golden Star Bogoso Mine and Barnex was in the Tarkwa High Court with the Government of Ghana (Office of the Attorney General) and the Ex-workers represented by their Lawyer who doubles as their Hon MP, then on the ticket of NDC Party, were jointly as the Plaintiff.

Folks, these were the confuse state of affairs in Prestea during the first Six months of the cash strapped new regime of President Kofour, who took over on 07th January 2001 and was therefore seeking for bailout from the IMF, World Bank and the International Financial Communities through the Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) Initiative with this judgment debt of not least 10 Million Dollars, at that time confronting Ghana.

Meanwhile, Golden Star Bogoso through Col Disu (Rtd) and Mr Richard Gray then MD of the Mines briefed myself and later the members of REGSEC on the state of affairs including, the financial situation at Bogoso Mines that it was dwindling or was very precarious (insecure) so the Company could not guarantee the continuance of the Workforce.

GAG Tarkwa, now Goldfields Tarkwa had a serious problem with her Staff concerning payment of severance awards due to change of ownership of GAG to Goldfields, so 2BN personnel were lifted with speed by helicopter to the site and prevented burning/the destruction of the Company’s assets, and secured the site pending arbitration by the REGSEC.

Unfortunately for GAG Tarkwa, now Goldfields Tarkwa but fortunately for the Staff payment of severance award was enshrined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) duly signed by both parties, hence the Company had no good case for her refusal to pay the severance award to the Staff. So the REGSEC drew attention of the Management of Goldfield to it and it was duty paid and some of the troops of 2BN who saved the assets of Goldfields Tarkwa from destruction remained inserted at Goldfields for OPERATION CALM LIFE.

There was also the burning of the Palace of the Chief of Awudua a suburb of Tarkwa, by his people especially the youth on employment issues after gaining a contract with Goldfields, Tarkwa, so, 2BN had to rush with troops to help the Police to rescue the Chief and others.

This was followed by a sudden upsurge of banditry activities and other labour unrest in the Western Region especially in the Wassa West District. Erupted, were a wave of armed Robbery activities with AngloGold Ashanti Iduaprim, Tarkwa and other places as victims, cases of raping including the raping of the wife of an expatriate staff at Ghana Manganese Company Nsuta near Tarkwa. These risks were coupled with Galamasey and illegal mining problems.

Attempts by My Amponsah then with AngloGold Ashanti Tarkwa with the support of Mr Yerankyi of GAG which later became Goldfields Tarkwa, the HR Superintendent and Admin Managers of Bogoso Mine namely Mr Paul Essah and Mr Adjei Mensah (now Hon MP for Daboase area on the ticket of the NDC) respectively to convince HQ Southern Command of the Ghana Army to order 2BN Takoradi then under my Command to deploy troops in Tarkwa, Damaing, Bogoso and, Bibiani to support the Ghana Police on OPERATION CALM LIFE and thus afford some protection to the Mining Companies and their Catchment areas were futile.

Folks, pardon me to reiterate that 2BN Takoradi at that time was responsible for the Internal Security Operations for both the Western and Central Regions. So, the Unit, then under my command was to provide troops for internal duties and some external operations including OPERATION SIT DOWN LOOK, jointly in support with the Ghana Police was OPERATION CALM LIFE in Sekondi/Takoradi, Cape Coast etc and anti- smuggling operations (as OPERATION HUNTER 111).

This made 2BN Takoradi really not to have enough soldiers and logistics for the provision of soldiers for extension of OPERATION CALM LIFE to Tarkwa, Bogoso,, Bibiani, Damaing etc. So, I was made to hand over the Internal Security of the Central Region to the then Force Reserve Battalion, initially as Force Reserve Unit (alias Commandos) which metamorphosed to the now 64 Infantry Regiment. So I handed over the Internal Security Responsibilities of the Central in the person of the current Army Commander, who then was an Officer Commanding (OC), with the Force Reserve Battalion.

Folks, my service in the Military by 2002, then almost a very Senior Major, made me to be well energized and a bold Officer, confident and jacked up and very ready to take any bold action as when required to deal with the security challenges. I sometimes had to physically participate in the OPERATION CALM LIFE in the Sekondi/Takoradi metropolis together with one then DSP Koduah of the Western Region Police Reserve or Mobile Patrol Unit.

The situations were really tormenting, these made me in one of the sleepiness night in 2002, to ponder on what must done to deal with the challenges. So, I was convinced that the welfare of the People or the Citizens should matter to a Military Officer commissioned by the President of Ghana/the Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces of Ghana and that it was on the behalf of you, (the Citizens), that the Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ghana bestows delegated powers to Commissioned Officers including myself for that material moment among others to be responsible for the Internal Security of the Western Region in support of the Ghana Police. So I felt I had the Military responsibilities individually and collectively with fellow Soldiers to uphold, preserve, protect and defend the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, so I felt I must act with alacrity and boldness to ensure national cushion. .

So, I developed various tactical options/Contingency Plans, and felt that as a Military Officer commissioned by the Head of the State (this was done by the Chairman of the PNDC), I could actuate the right tactical options since my loyalty effective 1993 was/is to the 1992 Constitution of Ghana which calls for it Defence and the upholding the welfare of the Citizens upon whom Sovereign powers resides or derives as declared at Section (1) of Article 1 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana which anchors the Fourth Republic.

Consequently, as stated above, I came out among others that with a strategy that if Superior HQ is not allowing 2BN to extend OPERATION CALM LIFE to the Wassa West District Tarkwa, Bogoso, Damaing and to the Bibiani District due to no enough troops I could make a presentation to the REGSEC so that the Air force Station, Takoradi, and Naval Base Sekondi had enough troops, so they can temporary support the 2BN Rear Details by beefing up the Unit’s strength for an expanded OPERATION CALM

The next problem was how to obtain logistics and Admin Support for the operations, at a period the Country was cash strapped and was in Ambulance as a candidate rushing for HIPEC. Thanks to Allah, COCOBOD made available vehicles etc and for the OPERATION HUNTER, Bank of Ghana also provide vehicle for security Operations, so these were sent to the Border areas and Sefwi Buaku.

Thanks to Alhaji Asuma Banda, through my good friend and brother, Mr Atiemo, then the Chief Director at the Presidency, then at Osu Castle, Accra, Alhaji made a cash donation of 50,000,000.00 old Cedis (equivalent to GHC50,000.00) to the Western Regional Coordinating Council for OPERATION CALM LIFE to deal with the upsurge of armed robberies and other violent crimes. Thanks very much to Mr YB Amponsah then with AGA Tarkwa and now a Labour Consultant ad Col Disu (Rtd) of Golden Star Bogoso Mine for input on how to obtain the external logistics and Admin Support, so with this assurance, I came out with an efficient and effective tactical operations deal with security challenges at the Ex-Wassa West District at almost zero or no much cost to Ghana Armed Forces which may therefore require no approval from Army HQ through HQ Southern Command.

Based on good signs of hopes that I presented the Plan to the Chairman of the REGSEC for discussion at an emergency meeting of the REGSEC for the authorization of the Air force Station, Takoradi, and Naval Base Sekondi to beef up the strength of 2BN for a joint military and Police Operation, so that 15 Soldiers plus 6 to 10 Policemen to be inserted in the location of each of the Mining Companies in the Ex-Wassa West District.

Beloved Citizens, based on the input from Mr YB Amponsah now a labour Consultant and Col Disu (Rtd),the Plan recommended for engagement with Stakeholders in the Ex-Wassa West District to convince the Mining Companies to be responsible for Admin support particularly medical support, cash of 200 old Cedis (equivalent to GHC2.00) per day per person for incidentals,, three square meals per person etc as well as responsible for Logistics support (accommodation, vehicle and fuel, for mobile patrols and movement from and to barracks for and after the operations respectively etc) for the personnel.

It was approved by the REGSEC, so based on the recommendations in my document, the REGSEC planned the Stakeholders engagement in Tarkwa under the auspices of the then Wassa West District Assembly at Tarkwa.

Folks, the Western Regional Security Council in April 2002 engaged the key Stakeholders (the then DCE and Presiding Member of the Ex-Wassa West District, the then Tarkwa Divisional Police Commander, the then BNI Officers for the Ex-Wassa West District, the then Hon MP namely Hon Aubbin, the Chiefs, Commercial and Financial Houses, Contractors, Faith Base Organizations of the affected areas of Ex-Wassa West District and the Mining Companies in the Ex-Wassa West District and Bibiani) this culminated in the acceptance by the stakeholders the prayer/plea of the Western Regional Security Council for the insertion of Policemen and Soldiers in the location of Mining Companies, effective April 2002, to deal with banditry activities confronting the citizens in the Region thus ensured national cohesion, economic and social development and the protection of the environment.

Beloved Citizens, to demo their pleasure or the acceptance of the deployment policy, the Stakeholders at the meeting collectively paid over then 20,000,000.00 Old Cedis (now GHC20,000.00) into the Account of Regional Coordinator Council in April 2002 against the initial cost on the insertion of the troops in the location of the Mining Companies. In addition to their cash donations, the Mining Companies accepted the placement of the Policemen and Soldiers in their location and the provision of accommodation, daily allowances, three square meals per day, and fueled patrol cars at very huge draining cost as part of their contribution towards national security. These laudable acts can be confirmed by the current CEO of COCOBOD, Hon Joseph Boahen Aidoo, then Chairman of REGSEC and Mr Ayensu, then the DCE of Ex-Wassa West District Assembly Tarkwa or the then MP of the area or the current MP of Daboase (Hon Mr Adjei Mensah, then Admin Manager of Bogoso Min) or Mr YB Amponsah, then with AngloGold Ashanti Tarkwa who is now a Labour Consultant.

The Mining Companies were briefed that the troops were to demonstrate visible presence through the organization of mobile patrols to the catchment areas thus within their Concessions as well. They were not to attack Galamasey operators but should stop at major areas of Galamasey activities for at least one hour which may put fear of God in them to scatter and thus made the operations to be somehow cost effective.

Resolution of the impasse between the Government of Ghana and Barnex

Folks let me brief you on the resolution of the impasse between the Government of Ghana and Barnex. As stated, Golden Star Bogoso Mine in 1999 was facing depletion of her gold ore reserves in Bogoso, hence the threat of wind up reared its ugly head and Golden Star Bogoso Mine was a given a lifeline by Barnex. But the Regime of the day was delaying in granting the Mining Lease to Bogoso Mine with the case in the High Court. There was a change in Regime in 2001. So, unfortunately for the ex-workers, their Lawyer who doubles as the Hon MP for Prestea died in a motor accident in 2003 or so, on his way to Court for the determination of the Case.

The NPP and their Parliamentary Candidate in a subtle manner managed to woo the ex-workers and the people of Prestea to their side and won the Bye election organized in 2003 due to vacancy created by the death of the MP on the ticket of the NDC, Thus further compounded the security situation at Prestea..

Fortunately, for Barnex and Golden Star Bogoso Mine and to some extent the New Administration of President Kofour, the case died because either the Attorney General Office (the Prosecution) failed to continue with the case or adopted a cunny state, so that the New Admin could issue a new Mining Lease to Golden Star Bogoso to takeover over PGL from Barnex and may be as face saving blame the Court for the loss of the case in Court or other reasons. This disappointment contributed to the NDC wining the Prestea Seat in subsequent elections Hon until Barbara came and won it for NPP later on.

By end of 2003, the Company managed to get the Mining Right (a lease agreement) but the ex-workers stood on their ground not to allow the deal to be realized on the ground, firstly they kick against the Public Hearing by EPA for the Environmental Impact Assessment which could lead to the mining activities of Golden Star in Prestea. So, the REGSEC with me as one of the principal persons made several trips to Prestea to negotiate with the ex-staff of PGL to allow for the Public Hearing without success.

Signing of the Pact between the Ghana Army and Chamber of Mine

As stated above REGSEC inserted personnel from the Police and the Military in the location of the Mining Companies. With a new Administration in 2009, the Police had to withdraw their personnel when the Mining Companies refused to meet a demand for not less GHC100.00 per Person per day otherwise a withdrawal. The Mining Companies through my inputs replied to the Police and explained the history on the deployment of the personnel who not used for direct security operations ad huge cost was incurred on the troops thus cause a debilitating effect on the finances of the Mining Companies hence the Companies were willing to sustain the operation at the current cost. Due to the Companies refusal to meet the unrealistic demands of the Police, the Police personnel were made to withdraw and left only the Military troops.

So in 2015, the Army Command could not fathom the continuance of the stay of the troops with no Policemen with them for the OPERATION CALM LIFE in the affected areas. So, Brigadier General Dan Mishio, then as the Chief Operations Officer at the National Security Secretariat met Heads of security of Mining Companies at Golden Star Wassa Mine and he was briefed with the facts or the history on how the troops especially personnel got deployed in the location of Mining Companies, as the work of National Security in 2002 and not at instance of the Mining Companies as perceived. He was briefed on the very good work of the troops in the various District in checking banditry activities within the areas of internal security responsibilities of the Ghana at least cost to the Ghana Armed Forces and only they afforded protection to the their Sites due to their visible presence on their Sites among other good reasons. So the Army Command through him felt the need for Status of troops Engagement or Memorandum of understanding concerning the troops in their locations. These include the Dos and Don’ts as well as the admin and logistic support for the guards to ensure high morale; this led to the Signing of the Pact between the Ghana Army and Chamber of Mines.

Galamasey Operations
Folks, I defined Galamasey operation as a survival operation by poor people using simple tools like pick axes, spade etc sluicing equipment and not sufficient money for their mining activity in a nomadic nature tracing the gold vein which they regard as God’s gift for them to escape from their poverty miseries and they may not be doing so or it is not necessary for wealth creation. Some are mainly immigrants from the north. So understanding this definition or the characteristics can help in reducing it to the barest minimum level with all range of measures including Politically, Military, Psychologically, Economically etc

I mentioned that Galamasey is a method of mining and can be legal if under a Mining Right or Mining License. This was exemplified in above on how the ex-workers of Barnex’s PGL acquired Mining License for Small Scale Mining and operated Galamasey operations (artisanal mining) with it which is simply a mode of mining. Another good example is that in 1996, the Minerals Commission discovered illegal mining activities by Galamasey Operators at two Sites namely Kejetia and Obuasi at Gbane in the Telansi District in the Upper East Region by immigrants from the Ashanti Region, as the names of the Sites suggest.

The land owners through the support of the Minerals Commission legalized/regularized the illegal mining operations of the two Galamasey Sites by getting the Sector Minister to issue Mining Rights by Mining Licenses to the land owners. The owners of the Mining Rights therefore legalized the numerous Galamasey operations of the personnel within their sites and entered into the tributaries system of payment by agreed percentages sharing. And were accountable to the State for mining activities as per the term and conditions of the license and permits

Illegal mining
Illegal mining is simply a mining activity that breaches the mining law working outside or not under a Mining Right, or not meeting the terms and conditions of the Mining Lease Agreement or the Mining License and the Environmental permit per the requirement of relevant laws including Environmental Assessment Permit (LI1652) 1999 for the posting of reclamation bond in USA Dollars among others.

Illegal mining means a lot and is even committed by all miners sometimes including Large Scale Mining Companies by not working within the lease agreement or Mining Right or License or breaking the mining regulations or rules as per the operating permit, working without environmental permit as per the is illegal.

Folks per the 2020 Auditor General Report none of the so called licensed Small Scale Mining Companies operated legally between 1999 and 2020 because they did not operate as per required by the Environmental Assessment Permit (LI1652) of 1999. Google for this report and check under Small Scale Mining. Hence all the so called Small Scale Miners licensed or unlicensed operated illegally by not posting reclamation bond with the exact amount in US Dollars for regaining the mined out land. Hence the state of massive environmental damage is expected should not be news due to the inept, corruption and silliness of some State Officials.

Golden Star Bogoso Mine philosophy on how to reduce the Menace of Galamasey to the barest minimum

Col Disu (Rtd) and Mr Richard Gray then MD of Golden Star Bogoso Mine saw me as a very smart and bold security person who is imbued with rich with tactical strategies, so on the instance of Golden Star Bogoso Mine, Col Disu (Rtd) and Mr Richard Gray then MD, I asked the REGSEC during a meeting at Sekondi to resign from the Ghana Army to support the Company to gain access for mining in Prestea. Which, I did and on joining the Company, I made some presentations to the Company on how to resolve the impasse at Prestea by the application of all range of measures including economically, politically, socially, Psychologically, militarily or tactically or defensively with use of good security matrix of the Police, Army and Private Security with ex-servicemen and others.

So, I submitted to the Company, the history of Galamasey operations since the 13^th Century. I made it clear why and how Galamasey operations (the local parlance for Small Scale Mining) were executed, why and how Small Scale Mining (Galamasey operations) was abolished in 1902 by the Colonial Masters by abolishing of Small Scale Mining Law 1902 and again in 1926. Why and how it persisted despite the abolishing and rather attracted copious usage of mercury for extraction of gold by the Small Scale miners. So, this made the Colonial Government in 1932 to enact a law that abolished Mercury usage in Small Scale Mining in 1932 to further curtail Galamasey operations.

I indicated that History tells that Small Scale Mining (Galamasey operations) and the use of mercury remained banned until in 1986 when the PNDC as part of win-win solution which was Chairman Rawlings’s philosophy of ‘‘Live and let us also Live’ that is if you cannot beat or conquer them find a common ground to coexist with the Galamasey operators. So, the PNDC really legalized Galamasey operations into the English or the Official version of Small Scale Mining in 1986 by an initial enactment of Section 77 of the Minerals and Mining Act 1986 (PNDCL153) please Google for ‘Minerals and Mining Act 1986 (PNDCL153)’ and read at Section 77 which was a mere legalization process for Galamasey and the legalization was subject to a Formalization process to be done later to make Galamasey operations fully legalized as the objective or target. This is Ghana’s problem

History tells that as part of the Formalization process for Galamasey operations, the PNDC passed three laws, legalized the Use of Mercury in Small Scale Gold Mining by the enactment of Mercury Law 1989 (PNDCL217), then the Small Scale Gold Mining Law 1989 (PNDCL218) and to provide official gold Market and reduce smuggling, the Precious Minerals Marketing Law 1989 (PNDC219) was enacted to set up Precious Minerals Marketing Company. The PNDC further established at Tarkwa, the Headquarters of the Small Scale Mining under the Minerals Commission and also Mining committee Centers at some affected District where mining was prevalent to support in the formalization of Galamasey into a final official and or legal status.

Folks to get Golden Star Bogoso to gain access to Prestea for mining in 2004 or so, I recommended to the MD of the Golden Star Bogoso Mine to have empathy for the Galamasey operators by adopting the coexistence policy of ‘Live and Let us Live’ so that the Company beside Alternative Livelihood Projects, should continue with Scholarship for skill developments, should also tolerates a controlled Galamasey operation in her concession with the aim of getting them to navigate to new profitable businesses by encouraging them to save money and provide them with skills, so that the Company can get them to finally settle in other profitable ventures with the revenue made from their mining activity as part of win-win solution, which was accepted. Then the support of the Military and Policemen could be used to control the Galamasey operators permissible by the Company or evict any illegal act as considered by the Company.

So by the approval of the MD, I informed the then Chairman of the REGSEC, who is now the CEO of COCOBOD about my strategy and caused through the then Hon MP (Mr Aubbin) and the DCE (Mr Ayensu) for the formation of an association of the Galamasey operators with credible leadership which the Company can hold accountable so that the Company could cede a portion within her Concession especially an area with marginal gold to them under the Supervision of Mining, the Security and Safety Departments. This led to the formation of the Prestea Mining Group (PMG), and an area in Prestea was allotted to them to operate under the guidance of their leaders with one Musah as their Chairman. He and his team were held accountable for their activities and were under my control. So, I could halt their activities for a week especially when we had external visitors. This went very well in Prestea with an option to relocate them to new areas which was being scouted by a Committee with Col Disu (Rtd) as Chairman, one Albert Soboh as member and Major Bogobiri (Rtd) as member/Secretary.

Briefing of Senior Government Officials from the Office of the President/ Presidential Candidates

The situation of the friendly work with the Galamasey operators remained same during the 2004 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections, so when the then Vice President of Ghana, then his excellency Aliu Mahama on working visit to the site of the Mine with his entourage including Hon Majeed Haurana, (my very senior mate at/fellow old student of Navrongo Secondary School), who was then Deputy Minister of Mines, he was briefed on our main security challenge as the activities of Small Scale Miners, coined as Galamasey operators and what the company was doing to contain them including providing them with Alternative Livelihoods, Projects, Scholarships, and areas with marginal ore body say less than One Million Dollars to them to operate under the umbrella of Prestea Mining Group (PMG).

He was told that Small Scale Mining, was as a poverty driven(survival) activity by mostly uneducated persons, who conduct their operation in a nomadic mode in search of gold vein and they see it as God’s gift to them to escape from their poverty miseries and that it started through manually with simple tools like pick axes, brooms, spade etc and picking or gathering and selling (hence in local parlance ‘gatha’ and sell or Galamasey) of good nuggets after rains especially the gather the gold nuggets or blades at banks of rivers, sea shores, then through washing or sluicing and panning etc and this was done before the coming of the Europeans in 1482.

He was also told that, the Colonial masters did not tolerate Small Scale Mining, so it was banned in 1902 and 1926, 1932 (ban of Mercury usage law) The Europeans, restricted mining activities to Underground Mining which was beyond the scope of the locals and thus became as the preserves for the Europeans. But Galamasey operations persisted under secret cover. It was made known to him that at that time in the olden days, the people of Southern Ghana especially the Asantes were afraid to work in the workings of the underground Mines due to a fear of encountering with evil spirits, so they restricted most of their activities to farming especially Cocoa which then gave them very good prices and they only did the picking of gold nuggets from river beds, etc from the surface as part-time.

It was further narrated to him that in order to get labour for their underground mining activities, the Europeans recruited people from the North especially Dagartes and from the then Upper Volta now Burkina Faso to help in the Underground Mining. He was also told that CPP regime acquired the Underground Mines at Prestea, Tarkwa and Bibiani in 1961 from the Europeans under the umbrella of State Gold Mining Corporation (SGMC).. How SGMC was maintained by all regimes until the regime of the PNDC through the Structural Adjustment Program/ Economy Recovery Program placed SMGC among other State Commercial institutions under the diversification Program under the Divesture Implementation Committee (DIC) was disclosed to him.

So the Structural Adjustment Program caused workers including persons used for operations of SGMC etc especially emigrants from the North etc to be laid off. Hence they laid off workers remained in the same areas and had to do Galamasey or Small Scale mining to survive and it was when gold became a profitable business that a lot of the indigenes of the affected areas joined in the Galamasey operations.

He was briefed on how Bogoso Mine jointly with AGA Obuasi mines were working on a plan to relocate the Galamasey operators in Prestea and those at AGA Obuasi mines at oboum gold property northeast of Obuasi mine and Site at Ayanfuri, presently occupied by Perseus Gold Mining Company, original owned by AGA Obuasi . So that they could operate under the technical control and supervision of Consultants by name GEO-CONSULT at the cost of the Company etc. I made it clear that Small Scale Mining is regarded globally as a poverty driven mining activity for survival by uneducated locals most often migrants and not for wealth creation hence, the best any reasonable Political Administration should do was or is to empathize with the operators, see it as part of Poverty Alleviation or Mitigation and use all range of measures to reduce the menace.

It was disclosed to him among the measures should be a political decision to halt emigration from the North to the affected mining areas or to Southern Ghana through viable/profitable and all year round Agric ventures with irrigation systems and Alternative Livelihood Projects for the indigenes of and settlers at the affected areas. As well, action to halt it should a plan to effect their collaboration with Large Scale Mining Companies to provide areas with marginal but reasonable gold ore body with technical support and off taker (purchase) agreement to be reached with them to sell their gold at good prices to the Company in order to check smuggling otherwise to encourage them to sell to PMMC.

He was very excited with the brief so when he got to Prestea to campaign, he effectively declared that ‘’Prestea is Galamasey and Galamasey is Prestea’’ very loaded message which every Politician especially President Nana Addo must understand that Galamasey is not synonymous with illegal mining.

Then Action Plan of Golden Star Bogoso Mine to reduce Galamasey operation in Bogoso and AGA Obuasi Mine

In attempt to walk the talk, or her promise, Golden Star Bogoso Mine, constituted a 3man -committee with myself as secretary and Col Disu (Rtd) as Chairman and thee Company commissioned Geoman-Consult to work (by assessing and delineating) the Ayanfuri Site for the relocation of over 5,000 Galamasey Operators from Prestea and from areas of AGA Obuasi. Unfortunately, in Feb 2005, the Champion (myself) was not very happy with some related situations especially the recommendations, consequently, I unilaterally caused for abolishing of the project it. You may wish for confirmation of this act. So the below email speaks volume on it.

Ex-President Mahama position on Galamasey operations

Folks, during the campaign for the 2012 Presidential Election, President Mahama paid a working visit to the Golden Star Bogoso mine. He was told the main security challenge of the Company as Galamasey activities, similar to what was given to the Vice President Aliu Mahama in 2004 but a very abridge story. He was very happy with the details as presented by his good friend Mr Dan Owriedu, then Vice President of Operations for Golden Star Resources Ghana, so he bought some of the ideas like the all range of measures especially supportive measures to the entrenched Galamasey Operations to get Alternative jobs, the collaboration with Large Scale Mining Companies and or the Minerals Commission blocking areas for Small Scale Mining activities after Mining Rights are granted.

It was made clear that most Galamasey operators are doing so for survival, so it requires political solution from the State and Agencies/NGOs support from the Ghana Chamber of Mines or Large Scale Mining Companies, the International Communities including IMF/World Bank, DANIDA, Governmental support from the Chinese Government etc then use of the Military and the Police and Private Security Organization to solve It. It was further made clear that rich persons or tycoons like Chairman Wontumi are looking for additional wealth and not jobs, so the Government should introduce Medium Scale Mining sector for the rich persons like Chairman Wontumi interested in the mining industry. That is urgent need for creation of a wedge between tycoons in the mining industry to work in a different sector say Medium Scale Sector and leave Small Scale Mining as Galamasey operations as National Disaster which intervention to make it as Community Mining who are just looking for coins or small money to buy bike or build Ata Kwame mud houses or start new business etc but the tycoons do not need Alternative jobs because they are simply looking for money for more mansions, cars etc, hence the Medium Scale Mining sector option is the best, since Mining is capital intensive, they should be allowed to are freely cooperate with foreigners in the Medium Scale Mining sector per regulations almost same for large scale mining companies.

He also bought the idea of the need for well-established Alternative Livelihood Projects including skill developments, putting them at areas not economical to mine but with reasonable ore and supporting them to mine responsibly under the Policy Live and let us Live. Alternative Livelihood Projects should be with a combination of short gestation period animals and crops like rabbit rearing, bee keeping, poultry, mushroom, and maize in order to give some income whilst operating long gestation period animals like cattle and or plants like perennials crops like Palm Oil, cashew nuts, etc. He also got excited with the principle of sustainability in mining by getting them to invest some of their revenue in new businesses for them to settle in those activities

Hence the philosophy of ex-President Mahama I can say remains same as that from Bogoso Mine. So, I am sure it was the same message that he and Dr Tony Aubyn echoed in 2020 election.

As a rep of the Ghana Chamber of Mines in 2014 at the Security Taskforce of the inter-ministerial committee set up by President Mahama, I attended meetings at the National Security Secretariat under the Chairmanship of Brigadier General Dan Mishio, later under Brigadier General Adeti etc who were one time as Chairman of the Security Taskforce of the inter-ministerial committee set up by President Mahama for the eviction of illegal miners especially foreigners.

I gathered as a member of the Taskforce Committee, that President Mahama accepts the eviction of Galamasey Operators (Ghanaians) but with human face but good or effective actions against Chinese illegal miners. That was why at a point in time in 2016 or so he made an Army Commander to return troops which the Okyihene of the Abukwa State made a request direct to the Army Commander for support to evict Galamasey miners. It was for the same reason that he did not agree with the Asantehene in 2016 or so for troops to deal with Galamasey operators at the AGA Obuasi Mine. These are historical facts.

So ignore the attempt by propagandists to damage ex-President Mahama by connecting an act done by the Ghana Chamber of Mines and Ghana Army with the pact at the blind side of the then President of Ghana and I am sure the CDS was not aware of the pact, hence the pact never had the support of the CDS or the Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces in 2015. Of course, Ex-President Mahama was aware of the placement of the troops in location of Mining Companies because he had a briefing on this when he visited Bogoso Mine in 2012 as stated above.

It cannot be ruled out that some Unit Commanders might have exploited the pact and deployed troops to support some mining Companies not with the Ghana Chamber of Mines like the deployment of the late Major Mahama and his team at area of Denkyira Obuasi.