‘I’ll ban small-scale mining for a year to curb galamsey if I win 2024 elections’ — Alan

Independent presidential candidate Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen has proposed banning all forms of small-scale mining for one year if elected in 2024 to address widespread environmental degradation caused by galamsey.

Speaking on Accra-based JoyNews on September 16, Alan said he would move miners currently operating in degraded lands to a storage preservation environment managed by the armed forces.

This, according to the Movement for Change leader, would allow for a period of land restoration across affected areas.

"There is going to be a period where all the degraded lands will be restored and that in itself is a major commercial activity, which the young people engaged in galamsey will have the opportunity of being part of the restoration," Alan said.

The one-year ban would also give government time to support small-scale miners in establishing formal mining companies of their own.

“Within that one year period, the government will also support the young people to establish their own mining companies. They will be provided with machinery and equipment which will be used in a sustainable way," Alan noted.

Currently, galamsey miners use rudimentary tools that are poorly suited for mining and harm the environment.

“Right now, if you look at the implements they use, obviously it is not the kind of instruments they should use for mining," Alan observed.

The conversation regarding illegal mining has heightened in recent times and has seen several calls for the government to declare a state of emergency and a total ban on all forms of small-scale mining.