Gold Board good idea if only Medium Scale Mining is set up for Licensed Small Scale Miners otherwise Disaster

For My Mouth will Speak the Truth, wickedness is an abomination to my Lips’ as decreed in the Holy Bible at Proverbs 8:7. So, the author of this epistle and you, who are both of the human race as created by God are required to be honest, truthful, well-informed as well as bold as expected of the new Citizen of Africa especially Ghana as wished by Dr Kwame Nkrumah, the Founder of God’s Nation called Ghana.

Welcome on board the spaceship, the Better Ghana Agenda as piloted by Major Bogobiri (rtd), a former practitioner in Ghana’s National Security System, including one time as a member of the Security Taskforce Committee chaired by then Brigadier General Dan Mishio, later on by my very good brother then Brigadier General Adeti under the National Security Coordinator to assist the Inter ministerial Taskforce for anti-illegal mining operation as constituted in 2013 by His Excellency Mr JD Mahama, then President of Ghana. He held the position of Loss Prevention Superintendent in the Large Scale Mining Sector and currently a student of risk management.

Your Pilot is therefore armed with excellent intelligence on the history and characteristic or the underlying issues of Small Scale Mining, a necessary evil for poverty reduction, which is bedeviling Ghana. By this background, he is also armed with the ways to reduce the associated risks with small Scale Mining to the barest minimum as proclaimed globally especially by institutions like the World Bank, the Inter-Governmental forum (IGF) on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development and reputable scholars in mining environmental issues. Lastly, he has a good knowledge on Mining Laws especially those related to Small Scale Mining in Ghana, hence well-informed on how to reduce the associated risks of small scale mining, (a poverty reduction activity for livelihood, employment and development of local economies) to the barest minimum.

The author as an ex-Army Officer, who has ever sworn an Oath of loyalty to the Constitution of Ghana hence to protect his Nation First at all times, so he must be ready and available to share his experiences with concrete solutions, thus speaking the truth on the subject and nothing but the truth to the relevant Authorities and the public. This is necessary, since, Ghanaian Authorities normally relegate the history of issues herein the underlying issues/characteristics of Small Scale Mining hence the contributing factors to Small Scale Mining, which is a possible disaster or potential danger to the Environment Security, Food Security, Water Security, Public Health Security hence a major National Security threat if not well managed by the Minerals Commission and the much touted Gold Board yet to be effectively established.

Let me make once again a bold declaration for the attention of the President of Ghana (current and future) and the citizens of Ghana that based on erudite research work on small scale mining and related actions by various political regimes in the Fourth Republic of Ghana, some officials and some citizens in the first regime of President Mahama contributed greatly to the current massive destruction of the environment and economy of Ghana as explained below with evidential facts.

So the second coming of His Excellency JD Mahama, as a born again President of Ghana, requires all true lovers of Ghana to rise to the occasion with constructive criticisms to support him, otherwise his officials and compatriots and their cohorts may once again lead Ghana to a serious disaster. Since history often reveals recurring patterns of human actions etc and the repercussions or what has happened in the small Scale mining sector in the previous era of President Mahama may happen again with the GoldBod in his second coming, if Ghanaians do not provide constructive criticisms to support his second regime especially with the GoldBod strategy.

A critical thinking on the biography of His Excellency President Mahama would reveal that he is a very good person but he needs the support of his fellow nationals, notwithstanding, the fact that he is a very good global icon and he tells the truth, an unique Leader since he is a leader who honestly and openly regrets for the past errors of some officials of his regime and accept as his, since the buck stops with the President Google for ‘I made a mistake for buying tractors for Farmers’.

Blunders were caused in the Small Scale Mining Sector by some Officials in his first regime and unknowingly supported by some Hon MPs of the Sixth Parliament for not correcting the defects in some laws and Regulations associated with Small Scale Mining, otherwise defeat the affected laws by two third majority. Since the buck stops with the President, Mr Mahama had accepted/has to accept the blame or the flaws in his first regime, in good faith and he does so in public, a hallmark of a very honest Statesman.

The great errors of his first regime in the Small Scale Mining Sector, was allowing foreigners to operate in the Small Scale Mining Sector through three bad laws, notwithstanding the fact that the Small Scale Mining law proclaims that Small Scale Mining is without the use of sophisticated equipment nor the use of substantial expenditure and EXCLUSIVELY for a citizen of Ghana. The Minerals and Mining Law 2006 (Act 703) at Section 111 clearly interprets a Citizen of Ghana, and thus totally forbids or precludes participation of foreigners in the Small Scale Mining Sector, so a Citizen of Ghana forming a business partnership with a foreigner or foreigners for whatever role in the Small Scale Mining Sector was an illegal act which was committed in his regime.

Evidential material in the internet would indicate that Chairman Wontumi, Mrs Joana Cudjoe now Hon MP and others operators in the Small Scale Mining Sector and others exploited the bad small scale mining and other laws as narrated below to become very rich. So the affected persons must be very honest to express their gratitude to His Excellency John Dramani Mahama (HEJDM) for helping them to become very wealthy, an undisputed evidential fact.

The first bad law by the Officials of his Regime and not caused by President in person, but must take the blame since the buck stops with the President was an aspect of Minerals and Mining Support Services Regulation 2012 (LI2174). The second law is Ghana Investment Promotion Center Act 2013 (Act 845), not making small scale mining as no go areas for foreigners as decreed at Section 111 of the Minerals and Mining Act 2006 (Act 703) Google for this law and read the interpretations on Citizen.

The third law was/is an aspect of Minerals and Mining Amendment Act 2015 (Act 900), which robbed the PNDC’s Precious Minerals Marketing Company’s exclusive right or monopoly for exporting of gold from the Small Scale Mining Sector and gave it to foreigners and their Ghanaian cohorts like the very hardworking Ms Joana Cudjoe and others. Google for old photos and videos of self-confessed NDC Amenfi PC mining operations or Joana Gyan in mining operations.

The combined effect of these three bad laws contributed to the decade of decay, the massive destruction of the environment including the rivers, the distortion of the economy of Ghana, since over Five Billion US Dollars was loss by Ghana yearly effective 2015 through smuggling of gold by Chinese and Indians and their Ghanaian cohorts, some with properties in Dubai. Google for Ghana loses 2 Billion us Dollars due to gold smuggling or Missing gold how Ghana lost over Six billion USA Dollars in gold or JoyNews uncovers smuggling syndicate..

So, persons with critical mindset should tell that with regards to the decay in the environment and the economy the Regime of President Nana Addo was a victim of these bad laws, note Ghana is taking 3.5 Billon in ‘tot’ from the IMF for a period of three years whilst over 2 Billion US Dollars is lost yearly since 2015 due to bad laws and no enforcement of good laws due to corruption.

Due to the effect of the bad laws, in early 2017, then President Nana Addo had to put his Presidency on line for support to combat Small Scale Mining, a potential existential threat to mankind/ biodiversity. Furthermore, the combined effect of these laws coupled with effects of mismanagement by his administration which was aggravated by exogenous factors like the COVID19 pandemic, the Russia/Ukraine War and the Open Market policy of the Federal Reserve Bank (the Central Bank of USA), Ghana had to go for a bailout of 3.5 Billion US Dollars from the IMF to be released in ‘tot’ for a period of three years.

This author caused the repeal of the aspect of LI2174 of 2012 on support services by foreigners for the Small Scale Mining Sector by the regime of President Nana Addo with Minerals and Amendment Act 2019(Act 995). Still foreigners providing support services in the small scale mining sector exist, notwithstanding the repeal of the aspect of this law.

Note due to these bad laws, things did no go well for Ghana as stated above, so for public good, Bank of Ghana had to step in with the use of her balance sheet of GHC60 Billion to absorb 50 percent of the Domestic Debt Exchange program, as a condition precedence to facilitate the approval of the 3.5 Billion USA Dollars by the IMF in order to recuse Ghana.

What a big disgrace, it is unfortunate that as at date, Ghana is yet to accept my proposal for a Medium Scale Mining Sector or the proposal for a review of the Small Scale Mining Law as proclaimed by Dr Tony Aubynn. Google for Review of the Small Scale Mining Law by Dr Tony Aubynn.

Both of us, called for a restriction of small scale mining to Galamasey operation, a poverty driven act, as was done by our ancestors with simple tools and with no substantial expenditure and as recognized and honored by the PNDC in 1986 and legalized Galamasey which was banned between 1906 and early 1986.

So the PNDC enacted the Galamasey law at Section 77 of the Minerals and Mining Law 1986 (PNDC law153) and restricted Galamasey or Artisanal Mining operations with the decree that no use of sophisticated technology and no use of substantial expenditure and exclusively for a citizen of Ghana to protect the environment whilst supporting the development of local economy as part of PAMSCARD.

Since mining is capital intensive, Dr Tony Aubynn and myself called for a very clear and credible wedge to be designated as Medium Scale Mining Sector as third classification in the mining sector for the tycoons or Ghanaians and their Chinese cohorts, (friends, wives, husbands) to operate with strict compliance with local and International Standards.

So that they are free to use sophisticated technology and qualified minimum and maximum capital or equity in the Ghana Investment Promotion Center Act to be made by a Ghanaian and a foreign partner(s), a quota of expatriate staff etc. So, if Ghana had accepted my proposal for the Medium Scale Mining, Ghana would have recovered part of the over five billion USA dollars lost yearly by smuggling, and from the issue of tax under declaring or tax evasion etc as reported by the CIA, British Officials.

The state of the economy in 2022, gave birth to the Gold for Oil Deal for the Gold in the Small Scale Mining Sector, the model used was superb so as not to cause judgment debts since the operation of foreign companies in the exporting of gold from the small scale mining sector was covered by an aspect of Act 900 of 2015. Some Ghanaians either they were ill-informed persons or very greedy persons with their opposition to the Gold for Oil Deal.

The author of this paper published several articles in the website of Modern Ghana in support for the Gold for Oil Deal. The author also recommended a Minerals Board akin to Cocoa Board for it to deal with exporting of gold from both his proposed Medium Scale Mining Sector for wealth creation by Ghanaians and their foreign partners since mining is capital intensive. So that we strict Small Scale Mining to Community Small Scale Mining, as poverty alleviation policy and not for wealth creation, as part of solutions for the debacle in the Small Scale Mining Sector in addition to Alternative Livelihood Projects or other Government interventions with the support of the World Bank.

The author, as a Security Superintendent of Bogoso Mine/student of risk management in 2004 sold to the Management and the Board of the Company, the idea of coexisting with Galamasey operators by a Policy of Live and Let Us Live, by getting the Company to cede a portion of her concession for Small Scale Mining, with the Company providing a minimum support and monitoring to ensure they work within limits.

This idea was bought by the Board, so he caused the then Hon MP, Mr Albert Aubyn to get the Galamasey operators to form an association which they did with the Prestea Mining Group and the Company gave them an area for their operations. By this idea, he was able to control galamasey operations in Prestea including stopping small scale mining in Prestea for one week during the visiting periods of International visitors to the Company.

The success story of the Live and let us Live Policy made the Company to enter a MOU (understanding) with AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi for the relocation of galamasey operators from both the areas of the Bogoso Mine and Obuasi Mine to an area of a mined out concession of the Obuasi mine at Ayanfuri which was found ok with enough gold deposits for small scale mining operation.

So, GEO Consult, a mining consultant was contracted to see to the relocation. But the author caused the exercise to be aborted when GEO Consult indicated their work may 10 years to complete as well as the an attempt by the NPP Administration under President Kofour to make a political gain of the relocation operations (a private arrangement but it only needed the blessing of the government of the day). This attempt of the NPP was done through the then Sector Minister, Hon Dr Forbih, with a press conference and publications in the local dailies that the Government of the NPP is relocating the Galamasey operators in Bogoso/Prestea and Obuasi to Ayanfuri in 2005.

The success story of Collaboration between a Large Scale Mining Company and Small Scale Miners was bought by Tanzania during the regime of late President John Magefuli, (the Bulldozer) when he caused Barrick Gold Mining Company to collaborate with Small Scale Miners. So under the concept of scratch my back and I will also scratch your back, both Barrack Gold Mine in Tanzania and the Small Scale Miners cooperated and thus gained from the good work of President John Magefuli. So, Ghana should also get Large Scale Mining Companies to see how best they may help the Communities in their catchment areas which are interested in mining to mine in a responsible manner by providing support including allocating areas within their Concessions for Small Scale Mining.

Let me put on record that Bogoso Mine sold her idea of coexisting with Galamasey operators in 2004 to the Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama when he visited the Company together with his entourage which included the then Sector Minister Mrs Cecilia Bannerman and her Deputy, then Alhaji Dr Majeed Haruna before they visited Prestea. So his declaration in 2004 that Prestea is Galamasey and Galamasey is Prestea was based on the briefing from Bogoso Mine. President Mills also used this briefing given to him during his interaction with the management of the Company. He rather opted for blocking areas including mining concession for Small Scale Miners. So in 2009, the Government of Ghana through the Minerals Commission with Dr Ben Aryee as the CEO, blocked some areas in Ghana for Small Scale Mining (Galamasey) operations.

Ghana can adopt the Tanzania model, if and only if we understand that Galamasey is same as Small Scale Mining that is a poverty driven phenomenon, this is the exact term in the lexicon of the World Bank. So, that Ghana can obtain the support of the World Bank which mission is to reduce or eradicate poverty as well as the support of the Large Scale Mining Companies. Ghana must understand that Small Scale Mining as a poverty driven activity will remain as informal mining activity till the return of our Lord Jesus Christ to earth.

Ghana needs to rethink and come out with Medium Scale Mining Sector for tycoons or commercial business minded persons and restrict Small Scale Mining to indigenous mining as emanated from the land or area which was constituted into the Gold Coast and was banned in 1906. So the GoldBod concept is a good idea if and only if a medium scale mining sector is created by the Minerals Commission for the purpose as stated above.

Unfortunately, as stated laws enacted in the first regime of President Mahama contributed to the decade of decay of the environment and economy. So, the entry of the Chinese into the Small Scale Mining Sector is self-inflicted. To drive my point home, the first two laws (LI2174 of 2012 and Act 845 of 2013) as stated above made Mr Bernard Antwi Boasiako, alias Chairman Wontumi to operate Hansol Mining Company with the support of Chinese with a lot of sophisticated technology especially over 500 excavators etc to provide support services in the Small Scale Mining Sector. Google for President Mahama orders burning of mining sites and also Google for We do not burn Wontumi’s excavators.

The same bad laws as stated above made a judgments debt of One Billion United States Dollars to be awarded to Chairman Wontumi in September 2016 against the state for the burning of part of his 500 Excavators at his Site near Asankragua in 2013, the justification was based on these two laws enacted by the first regime of President Mahama, so the burning of Hansol Mining Company’s excavators by the security taskforce in 2013 was illegal against as it offended Act 845 of 2013 and LI 2174 of 2012 which allowed the state of affairs. Google for President Mahama orders burning of mining sites and We do not burn Wontumi’s excavators.

The third law as stated was the Minerals Amendment Act 2015 (Act 900) which two aspects are against the Interest of Ghana. These are the reducing of royalty to 3 percent as at Section 25 of Act 900 of 2015 and the aspect that ousted the PNDC’s Precious Minerals Marketing Company’s monopoly or her exclusive jurisdiction for the exportation of gold from the Small Scale Mining Sector and gave the exporting of gold to Licensed Bullion Exporting Companies mostly owned by foreigners mainly Chinese and Indians and their Ghanaian Collaborators.

The state of affairs effective 2008 with the involvement of the Chinese in Small Scale Mining, should have made Ghana to come out with a new mining classification to include a Medium Scale Mining Sector, since mining is capital intensive for the Chinese and their Ghanaian partners to operate freely and this would have called for a GoldBod to see to the exporting of gold from the Medium Scale Mining Sector and the Small Scale Mining Sector.

So the issue of the belated GoldBod though a good idea is an insult to the intelligence of Ghanaian especially the intelligentsia community (scholars, professors, lawyers, media etc). Insult since we are aware of the reasons that made the PNDC to transform the hitherto Cocoa Marketing Company to COCOBOD with Cocoa Marketing Company as a subsidiary of COCOBOD with the exclusive right to export raw Cocoa beans.

Furthermore our Intelligentsias should be aware of the reasons used to establish the Precious Minerals Marketing Company in 1986 and why the PNDC did not establish a MineralsBod akin to COCOBOD. But with the current state of affairs with Chinese investors in our midst with the associated problems in the Mining Sector, our intelligentsia community should have recommended a median scale mining for the Chinese and their local Collaborators, restrict Small Scale Mining to citizens of Ghana especially residents of a community for Community Small Scale Mining that if is in the interest of the Chief and his subjects to do so, like the PNDC’s model thus with no use of sophisticated technology in line with the operations of our ancestors. So that GoldBod does the exporting of Gold from both sectors.

This state of affairs can simply be deduced from the history of mining and mining laws in Gold Coast and in Ghana. So, with the coming of thousands Chinese into Ghana under the Ghana China Friendship Association for mining activities, the narrative should be changed to suit situation on the ground and not leaving it to God with our hands thrown in to the air, for the Lord Jesus Christ or Prophet Mohammed to come and save poor Ghana.

so it is very baffling ones imagination that Ghana we so many members of the Intelligentsia Community failed as date to establish a Medium Scale Mining for Ghanaians and their Chinese investors and modify the PNDC’s Precious Minerals Marketing Company to include a MineralsBod and retaining or the reestablishment of the Precious Minerals Marketing Company with the exclusive right to export gold from both the Medium Scale Sector with foreign participation and Community Small Scale Mining with zero tolerance for involvement of foreigners.

We need not to blame the foreigners especially the Chinese, out brother and sister brought them as their wives, husbands and friends and the Chinese are very good people they have made a lot of visible investment in Ghana and the foreigners in general have made some of nationals to be rich. So how to coexist with them is very essential. Ghana may consider a policy of a Citizenship by Investment for foreigners who can invest at say at least 700,000.00 US Dollars or 1 million Dollars in Ghana.

Note, the very hardworking and very honest Ms Joana Cudjoe from Dunkwa, initially a mobile phone shop girl, later a miner now the Hon MP of Amenfi Central benefited from a foreigner investment in the Small Scale Mining Sector but Ghana did not get a lot from the foreigner. Lady Joana exploits in the Small Scale Mining Sector was based on the three bad laws of LI 2174 of 2012, Act 845 of 2013, and Act 900 of 2015 as enacted in the first Regime of President Mahama. Google for old photos and videos of self-confessed NDC Amenfi PC mining operations or Joana Gyan in mining operations.

So if you really love Ghana then let us provide constructive criticism to see how best the much touted Gold Board which by critical reasoning emanated from the Gold for Oil Deal or formerly Precious Minerals Marketing Company may help Ghana improve her economy whilst not causing further massive destruction of the environment (thus pose a risk to the Environment Security, Public Health Security, Food Security hence National Security.

If we do not provide support to the regime of President Mahama, some of his Officials may fail Ghana once again, since history repeats itself, so Que sera, sera (whatever will be will be) the future is not for us to see, but with good knowledge in history we may be able to predict future events. Blunders are cropping up in the Regime of HEJDM, so let us ensure no more blunders in the Mining Sector.

Note, the signs are written on the walls for those with critical mindset who can see to predict. For instance the appointments and disappointments made by the regime of the President so far and the attempt to remove the Chief Justice of Ghana spells a disaster for Ghana, since unless the Constitution is amended every regime will come with its Chief Justices.

The author wrote an article and published in the Modern Ghana against the President of Ghana especially President Mills and President Mahama arrogating themselves the powers to initiate the amendment process for the amendment of the provisions of the Constitution. Thus usurping the powers granted to Parliament at Article 289 of the Constitution. President Mills wrongly used Article 278 for fact finding of matters of public interest to set up the Constitution Review Commission, so he went further to assume the powers of an appellate Court and solely reviewed the work of the Constitutional Review Commission.

The blunders being committed in the regime of JD Mahama are not acceptable. Examples Hon Mr Edward Bawa was initially appointed as CEO of GNPC but withdrawn within the same month and appointed as Group CEO of GOIL. Mr Ayiku Ocansey was appointed as Deputy MD of ECG then disappointed later on with a flimsy excuse. Google for Mr John Ayiku Ocansey withdrawn as Deputy MD of ECG.

The Military which is a very hierarchical and very Discipline Institution and things must be done with care had its fair share of the blunders of the President. Nothing very wrong with the appointment of the three Brigadiers from Regular Commission intake 30 and above to occupy the post of CDS and Service Commanders regardless the fact that there are Major Generals in the System.

This may be since as part of resetting of Ghana, need to reduce the too many Major Generals for a small Armed Forces like that of Ghana or for other good reasons might have motivated the action by the President. This implies the posting of seniors of the current CDS and current Service Commanders outside the Ghana Armed Forces to the Ministry of Defence or Ambassadorial status etc if they are to remain in active service otherwise voluntary retirement of the affected Officers with Regular Commission from the three Arms or the CDS must invite then to apply for voluntary retirement or organize compulsory retirement if they fail to do so and this entails huge cost and related problems.

A similar problem of so many Generals asked to resign or made to go on compulsory retirement happened in Nigeria. Google for Service Chiefs’ Seniors: Military orders generals to retire or Leadership Tussle amongst the Nigerian Armed Forces etc or Frequent Retirement as disincentive to the Military Officers Morale or Who is General AO Ogomudia, Nigeria new Chief of Defence Staff,

But the appointment of Brigadier General Glover Annan, a very junior Brigadier General as the Chief of Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces was a serious aberration or blunder. It was very good thing that the President quickly changed the appointment of the mentioned Officer to Commissioner of Customs since an appointment of Chief of Staff with the rank of Major General meant a lot, either massive retirement of his seniors or their compulsory retirement to be instituted otherwise retaining them may lead to munity in the Military thus a lot of Court Martials to deal with acts of insubordination or unbecoming of an Officer and a Gentleman. Google for Google for Service Chiefs’ Seniors: Military orders Generals to retire as well as

Unlike the CDS and Service Commanders who may have few seniors, but Glover has almost 100 Seniors in the system both from intake 27 to 29, thus including his intake and above who by Military tradition, a subordinate in the Active Service unless with political or Civil office say as a Minister or Ambassadorial status cannot give instructions to one who is his Senior especially with the Regular Commission or a superior with Regular Commission may not take instructions from his earlier subordinate.

History had it there was rancour and acrimony at the topmost echelon of the Ghana Armed Forces in the Regime of President Liman in 1979 when he had Brigadier General Nunno Mensah as the CDS and Brigadier General Arnold Quanno as the Army Commander, both were reportedly as intake mates but acts of insubordination was somehow demo by the then Army Commander or simply both could not cooperate with each, it was worrisome and could divide loyalty in the Military based on the fact that God will not be happy if see you dining with Lucifer, or the wrong concept of my enemy should by your enemy if you are my friend

So the President had to retire them after occupying their respective mentioned appointments for 4 months, due to their unbecoming conducts. The rest of the story or the aftermath is history since both became members of the PNDC with Brigadier General Mensah reinstated or reappointed as CDS thus took over from Chairman JJ Rawlings and made as a member of the PNDC. Brigadier General Arnold Quanno took over from him as the CDS when he resigned from his position.

So, the appointment of the CDS, Service Commanders must be done by the President based on the history of World Wars and the history of the America Civil War which came about due to the defiance of the confederation states to take the order of abolishing of slave trade in USA as order by President Abraham Lincoln, these and other reasons like Civilian authority must control the gun or coercive forces or the Military as made by one of the great leaders of China brought about the history of the President as the Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces.

So the President should do so, in a very sensitive way or based on military administrative policies, using the individual Senior Officers’ Confidential Reports on Discipline, training/causes attended, command positions held, combat experience if any etc as compiled and provided by the Military Secretary, normally with three nominees for the CDS and three nominees of Regular Commission from the same service in the case of the Service Chiefs as well as the issue of Regional Balance, the officers demeanor in public/issue of loyalty to the Constitution and others should be part of the consideration.

The above narration is very necessary to serve as a warning for all to wake up from slumber to help the President to see that the GoldBod yet to be established does become the nemesis or doom of Ghana, not we were told not to be spectators but we did not heed to the call or we acted as strangers and made President Nana Addo to act like a Roman King so we share the blame with President Nana Addo for his mistakes. This time our motto should be we no go sit down and let them cheat Ghana.

Enter the Gold Board. So, in our collective effort to help President Mahama to reset some aspects of Ghana and upgrade other aspects, we need to review the past or study history of Ghana herein about mining which will help us to learn helpful lessons, thus help us to prevent errors, develop critical thinking mindset, so as to be able to predict future trends. So, one of the great philosophers namely Confucius, advice that ‘Study the Past if you want to define the future’

Our Small Scale Mining Laws must be based on the Small Scale Laws in Ghana before 2000, since according to Constitutional experts and legal luminaries, a law must be interpreted based on originalism or purposefulness or the intentions of the originator or the framer of the parent law. So the Small Scale a Mining Law in particular must not deviate from the PNDC’s laws on Small Scale Mining since they knew the reasons why the Colonial master banned Small Scale Mining and why it remained ban but saw the need to legalized Galamasey into Small Scale Mining but with a caveat to meet the fear of the colonial masters and regimes before the PNDC.

Not factoring the fear of previous regime when the Small Scale Mining laws were added to the Minerals and Mining Act 2006 (Act 703) and the subsequent laws related to Small Scale Mining like LI 2174 OF 2012, GIPC Act 845 of 2013, and Act 900 of 2015 are contributed to the problem of Ghana within the Small Scale Mining Sector. As stated our Leaders especially officials in the Regimes of President Kofour, the first regime of President Mahama and to some extent that of President Nana Addo woefully failed this Country by not understanding the dynamics of Galamasey hence Small Scale Mining as a global poverty driven phenomenon for livelihood hence requires the intervention of Government with the support of the World Bank.

The demonization and criminalization of Galamasey is not the answer for a poverty driven phenomenon like Prostitution if no employment avenue for those forces into it for survival and not like the greedy ones who are in it for wealth creations or to get rich.

So the GoldBod as stated is a good idea provided it does not usurp the powers of the Minerals Commission as the Regulator as provided at Article 269 of the 1992 Constitution and the Minerals Commission must live up to expectation among others by the establishment of Medium Scale Mining Sector for tycoons and their foreign partners and ensue gold from both the Small Scale Mining Sector and the proposed Medium Scale Mining Sector are well accounted for and the export of the gold from these two sectors is done exclusively by the GoldBod through Gold Marketing Company.