GoldBod’s History, Why Bawa Rock Is the Sole Aggregator, and the Path to Safeguard Our Environment, Communities, and Economy

Issues on Small Scale Mining
The 1980s, saw Economic Recovery Programs (ERP) launched in some African Countries including Ghana to resuscitate their economics. So the ERP Ghana motivated a Structural Adjustment Program (SAP) involving the economic sector by the PNDC, under the support of the World Bank/IMF, among others to attract Foreign Direct Investments.

Consequently, the SAP affected the Mining Sector of the Economy, this led to the diversification of this Sector by privatization of the subsidiaries of the then State Gold Mining Corporation (SGMC), then as Underground Mining Companies which were placed under a Divesture Implementation Committee (DIC). The SAP also saw the opening of a lucrative opportunity for Multinationals or International Business Companies for Large Scale Surface Mining Operations. Both of these were done with the enactment of Minerals and Mining Law 1986 (PNDCLaw 153) for the attraction and guidance of all Investors in the Mining Sector and the Minerals Commission Law 1986 (PNDCLaw 154) as the Regulator.

Inherent in the Minerals and Mining Law 1986 (PNDCLaw 153) was a Small Scale Mining Law, at an initial silent Section 77. It thus meant to recognize the time-tested informal Artisanal Small Scale Mining in local parlance as Galamasey. Hence, PNDC Law 153 legalized Galamasey into Small Scale Mining but did not make it a Commercial venture before 1989. You may wish for evidence so, Google for “Minerals and Mining Law 1986 (PNDCLaw 153) and read Section 77”. This is the only section which was on Small Scale Mining. It made it clear that Small Scale Mining to be permissible if in the interest of the Communities and the method is by no use of sophisticated technology, no use of substantial money, etc.

In 1989, the PNDC allowed Small Scale Gold Mining to assume a real Commercial venture, so besides the further Formalization and an attempt for an effective Regularization of Small Scale Gold Mining, with the enactment of Small Scale Gold Mining Law 1989 (PNDC Law 218), the Precious Minerals Marketing Company was set up. These were parts of the then PAMSCAD, as a poverty alleviation program.

To ensure the protection of the environment, Small Scale Gold Mining was made to be permissible by the PNDC, if it was in the interest of the Communities to do Small Scale Mining. So, one may be right to say by the PNDC, Small Scale Gold Mining was not for nonresidents to give license in a Community for a proposed Scale Mining activity.

Hence, Small Scale Mining by the PNDC was not for City Dwellers or migrants or person not indigenes or residents, as a win-win situation. Google and Read Section 21 Small Scale Gold Mining Law 1989 (PNDC Law 218) for the Interpretation of Small Scale Mining as method of Mining without sophisticated technology and no use of substantial money and only for Ghanaians and it must be on the interest of the affected Community.

So logically, one will understand that by PNDCLaw 218, Small Scale Mining is not to be promoted by the Government since it must be in the interest of the Community before it will be allowed, also it was not for nonresidents and no use of substantial money thus not for the rich in the City. The story of the establishment of Obuasi Galamasey Village and Kejetia Galamasey Village in the Talensi Village in 1996 by persons from the Ashanti Region and the legalization and regularization of same by Sector Minister in 1996 speaks volume, how nonindigenous found it difficult to start Galamasey operations initially in 1995. It was only possible when the Community through their Chief and opinion leaders agreed and that the license must be issued to the son of the Chief and one other person and not the persons from the Ashanti Region and the only honor to their brothers from Kumasi was to name the Village as such. The history of Shanxi Mining Company now Earl International at Talensi enclave relates to the same story..

It should be noted that the PNDC with the help of the World Bank did very good risk assessments or due diligence on Small Scale Mining, hence the caveats placed on Small Scale Mining. Thus control measures to contain the associated risks. These were/are what a nation like Ghana should have done in the past or should do now respectively, to contain Small Scale Mining. This is necessary since Artisanal Small Scale Mining is prone to a potential human disaster. Confirm this by Google for ‘what is Small Scale Mining, underlying issues/ characteristics?.

So, inherently with Small Scale Mining was/is the fear of irresponsible mining with the potential to pose existential threat as perceived by the Colonial masters and regimes before the PNDC hence the ban on Small Scale Mining between 1906 and 1986 which made the PNDC before lifting the ban it put the caveats of no use of sophisticated technology, no use of substantial money, no involvement of foreigners, not more than one hectare for one persons and not more than 10 hectares for 10 persons or more for Cooperative Mining and Small Scale Mining is permissible, if it is in the interest of the affected Community and the mantra of Alternative Livelihoods for Artisanal Small Scale Miners.

So the PNDC’s caveats on Small Scale Mining are enough to warn a JSS pupil that Small Scale Mining is a potential National Security threat or disaster if not well managed, since it will cause very serious damages to the environment (water, land, and breathing air) hence, a danger to human security (Food Security, Water Security, or Fishery and Farming Industries. The sad story of Ghana.

So, for further Formalization and effective Regularization of Small Scale Gold Mining to allow for trading of gold through a small Scale activity, so that the Country would also gain the foreign currency to be made from the Small Scale Mining Sector, the PNDC established the Precious Minerals Marketing Company (PMMC) by the enactment of the Precious Minerals Marketing Company law 1989 (PNDC Law 219). This law granted the Precious Minerals Marketing Company, the monopoly or the sole right to buy and export precious minerals like gold and diamond from the Small Scale Mining Sector as well as assaying or assessing or testing all minerals to ascertain the purity and determine the amount payable.

So one can say that Parliament in 2006, erred with the nebulous Small Scale Mining Law and strangely made the minimum size for Small Scale Mining as one block defined as 21 Hectares or 52 acres, and one persons and one miner can acquire more than one block (sheer illogical by the framers of the law). Hence use of Excavators etc logically permissible so the massive destruction of the land and cocoa farms is expected since greed is an aspect of human behaviour.

So, the reason for the call by Dr Tony Aubyn for Review of Laws on Small Scale Mining. Google and read Review Laws on Small Scale Mining by Dr Tony Aubyn. Thus the Scaling up of Small Scale Mining instead of containment was made by Act 703. So, the massive destruction of the environment in Ghana was bound to happen. Cry the Beloved the Country.

The next disaster in the Mining Sector was in 2012, when the Minerals Commission enacted the Minerals and Mining Support Services Regulations 2012 (LI2174), and strangely allowed foreigners to participate in the Small Scale Mining Sector, does scaling up Small Scale Mining. Google and read ‘Will Ghana ever learn? A letter to the Ghana and China Chamber of Commerce’ as published on the website of Modern Ghana on 23 July 2012 by Anna Hanson. Google and read ‘We do not burn Wontumi’s Excavators by Hon Fuseini’.

You may wish for more evidential material, so Google and read ‘Chinese involvement in Small Scale Mining in Ghana by Professor Crawford’’ as published in 2013. Google and read ‘Old Photos and Videos of Self-confessed Amenfi Central PC who is in Galamasey pops up’ All these reflect why the audacious involvement of foreigners in the Small Scale Mining Sector, notwithstanding that the legalization of Small Scale Mining in Ghana by the originators as the PNDC, was only meant to lift the over 80 years ban on Galamasey as Artisanal Small Scale Mining as banned in 1906 and the ban was sustained until lifted in 1986 with Section 77 of PNDC Law 153. Section 77 of PNDC Law 153 was for the recognition of the informal traditional or indigenous or home-grown mining by Galamasey activities. So allowing foreigners into the Small Scale Mining Sector was foolhardy (reckless etc). Hence, the way forward is a ban of Small Scale Mining and the Declaration of State of Emergency that will facilitate ejection of the Chinese, at least their Ambassador will evacuate them from the field.

Enter Private Entities including Bawa Rock etc

So, by the PNDC, for the purchase of gold from, the to be regulated galamasey operators, alias the Small Scale Miners was part of Poverty alleviation for win-win situation, so PMMC registered and licensed Gold Buyers to support it, in the execution of her tasks in buying the gold from the miners. This was the state of affairs between 1989 and 2014, so the owner of Bawa Rock, the father of Alhaji Bawa Nomoro was one of the local buyers of PMMC by 2014 or before 2015.

In 2015, due to a cumbersome situation which the PMMC found itself, the Government, saw the need to create a structured system with private licensed gold buyers in the Small Scale Mining Sector, for amongst others, to help track gold from Small Scale Miners to the Market as part of due diligence. It was anticipated that it would help enhance Transparency and Traceability in order to reduce conflict in the supply chain and reduce illegal mining, hence Control measures.

The above reason and other reason motivated the removal of the monopoly of PMMC by 2015, in the buying and exporting of gold from the Small Scale Mining Sector and gave it to private companies including that of greedy foreigners or Ghanaians to buy assets in Dubai etc or save cash outside Ghana.

Hence, the policy turned out to be the worst decision for the trading of Small Scale Mining or galamasey gold. Since, matters on gold exporting revealed that more gold was exported from the Small Scale Mining Sector yet Ghana not much dollars was brought to Ghana thus Ghana was losing a lot and suffered/ suffering the massive destructions of the environment, hence the existential threat. Google for ‘CIA and Reuters report on over 5 Billion US Dollars of Gold exported by Ghana in 2016 to UAE yet Bank of Ghana accounted less’. That was one year after the introduction of the policy. The story that Ghana made the highest gold export from the Small Scale Mining Sector, when President Nana Addo banned Small Scale Mining for two years, speaks volumes and should wake up a dead man to note that something is not adding up or is wrong with Ghana.

The policy became a law, when the purchasing and exporting of gold from the Small Scale Mining Sector was given to private companies by the amendment of Act 703 to get the Minerals and Mining Amendment Act 2015 (Act 900). This law made the Minerals Commission and not the PMMC to be responsible for the issuance of the license for the buying and Exporting of gold from the Small Scale Miners to Private Companies before the GoldBod was set up.

Strangely, both LI2174 and Act 900 allowed foreigners to take part in the Small Scale Mining Sector as Mine Support Services Providers and bullion buyers and exporters, notwithstanding that Foreigners were/are banned to operate in the Small Scale Mining Sector, so the sector was crowded by foreigners. Google and read ‘How my Net worth reached 700 Million US Dollars by Keche Andrew’s wife by critical mindset you may come to appreciate the good strategy used by some Foreigners by partnering with Ghanaian as spouses, so that do bossiness in Ghana.

Between 2015 and 2023 or so PMMC was condemned as a National Assayer for minerals by Minerals and Mining Amendment Act 2015 (Act 900). It was claimed that what motivated this state of affairs include (a) Need for intermediaries to manage the complexities of aggregation and exporting of gold from the Small Scale Mining Sector (b). To curb gold revenue losses through smuggling, hence, it was regarded that by increasing competition by licensing of private companies as buyers and exporters was regarded as better way to bring the activities under State Lenses or law due to a perceived inefficiencies by the vehicle of PMMC, with allegation of some Staff of PMMC colluding in the smuggling of gold which led to revenue losses. Hence, the licensing of private companies was regarded as a good vehicle since they would come under the State Lens or Law (c). Need to boost the foreign exchange capacity of Bank of Ghana with enough import cover. (d) To formalize gold flow.

This resulted in individuals or companies including Bawa Rock to enter into gold trading venture by the establishment of Private firms for the buying of gold from the Small Scale Mining Sector and the exporting of same and were allowed to retain 20% in foreign Accounts and bring 80% to Ghana.

Thus the subsidiary law of Minerals and Mining Support Services Regulations 2012 (LI2174), and the amendment of Act 703 which gave Minerals and Mining Amendment Act 2015(Act 900) motivated the incorporation of Bawa Rock and others as Legitimate Home-grown Mining Support Service and Gold Trading Entities effective 2015.

So, Bawa Rock is now a multifaceted business entity among others, as a Mining Support Services Provider, a Gold Trading Company, a dealer in general goods, Construction etc, as stated it was incorporated in 2015, with initial base in Obuasi but with time it has spread its tentacles to outside the Ashanti Region and outside Ghana, so, it is performing wonders in gold trading in Liberia and need to be commended. Hence, New Citizens of Ghana, need to support the growth of Bawa Rock. May be, the current what may be termed as bad press, is going to be a blessing in disguise or by default for both GoldBod and Bawa Rock to tell their stories especially what they have done for Ghana to save Ghana from greedy foreigners in the Small Scale Mining Sector.

Bawa Rock is owned by my Grunshie or Kassena brother in Obuasi, namely Alhaji Rasheed Bawa Nomoro, Namolo in Navrongo, my hometown, hence we are both from the Great Grunshie clan. Thus Alhaji Rasheed Bawa Nomoro hence, Bawa Rock is not related to any of our playing mates including from the Gonja and Sissala from Tumu etc Clans. Hence, the owner, Bawa Nomoro is not related to Lawyer Mrs Joyce Bawa Mogtari Esq, nor President Dear JD Mahama/Mr Ibrahim Mahama and not related to the late Ambassador Alhaji Rasheed Bawa.

Bawa Rock and Goldridge Ghana Ltd which is owned by Dr Sledge Nana Duodu were both incorporated in 2015 for trading of gold hence in the same class. But Goldridge cooperation with Small Scale Miners in its attempt to ensure responsible Mining Google and read Goldridge and GNASSM sign a cooperation agreement may the reason that Goldridge Ghana Ltd another Company were the two Aggregators funded by PMMC with the support of Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF). It is envisaged it was based on eligibility criteria by MIIF especially KYC that is know your Customer as part of Due Diligence Process.

For historical records, let me add that Menzgold owned by Mr Nana Mensah was also licensed by Minerals Commission in 2015 for Gold Dealership. But he veered into the alleged fraudulent act with a sister Company as a Deposit taking Institution.

Also Golden Empire Legacy Ltd was incorporated in 2016 by the owner, the magnificent Hon Ms Joana Cudjoe, as a Legitimate Home-grown Mining Support Service and Gold Trading Entity. So, Bawa Rock and the mentioned Companies took part in the trading of gold in the Small Scale Sector up to the introduction of Gold for Oil Deal which resurrected PMMC and which metamorphosed to GoldBod.

Domestic Gold Purchase Program
In 17 June 2021, the then Vice President of Ghana, namely Dr Bawumia, with the support of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, motivated Bank of Ghana (BOG) to introduce the program of the Gold For Reserve (G4R) to support the Foreign Exchange Portfolio of BOG, through the Domestic Gold Purchase Program (DGPP) with Purchase of 20% Gold from all the gold producing Companies which are members of the Ghana Chamber of Mines.

DGPP, was done by BOG by advancing Cedis to the affected Companies, the equivalent in US Dollars based on Bloomberg rate for the day of export and the exchange rate for the day and BOG gains paper money or gold since the gold is delivered to Off-taker Refineries of the Mining Companies. Thus G4R gold of BOG is outside BOG in the Bullion Bank Vault of an accredited LBMA Refinery. This was one leg of the DGPP. Google and read ‘Responsible Gold Sourcing Policy Framework of the Domestic Gold Purchase. Program’.

The second leg of the DGPP involves the purchase of Gold from some Junior Mining Companies, like Prestea Sankofa Gold etc, unofficially classified by Bank of Ghana as Medium Scale Mining Companies but by GoldBod as Large Scale Mining Companies, through BOG’s Aggregator.

Unlike gold producing companies of the Ghana Chamber of Mines which do not deliver physical gold direct to BOG but paper money or gold indicating the number of ounces of gold bought by BOG held or to be in the Bullion Vault of their Off-taker Refineries of LBMA accreditation in overseas, the alleged Medium Scale Mining Companies through Aggregators supply or deliver the 20% gold for BOG, through PMMC at the Airport, for the assaying, pricing and exporting to LBMA Refineries as part of the G4R. Google and read ‘Responsible Gold Sourcing Policy Framework of the Domestic Gold Purchase. Program’.

A third leg of DGPP was added in December 2022, as response to escalating ex-pump prices of petroleum products and to avert possible shortages of these products, the then Vice President namely Dr Bawumia came out with the Gold for Oil (G4O) Deal for Ghana to gain from the Gold from the Small Scale Mining Sector which before that was not part of the DGPP. So this Gold as bought by Aggregators were sent to PMMC for assaying and pricing, and then for BOG to store the gold in the Vault of BOG for procurement of petroleum product through a mixture of both barter trade and sales hence a cash system as the situation demand. Google and read ‘Responsible Gold Sourcing Policy Framework of the Domestic Gold Purchase. Program’.

From the above details, anyone with critical thinking mindset should come to the conclusion that G4O was a very smart initiative piloted by Dr Bawumia. Since Greed is recognized as one of the aspects of human behaviour, so G40 was crafted to ensure the buy-in of the affected Bullion Exporting Companies. That is to say that it was a way to break into the comfortable and very lucrative businesses of the private gold trading Companies for the gold from the Small Scale Mining Sector, so that they can remain in Business with renewal of their licenses yearly by 31 December.

PMMC to GoldBod
So it was the G40 in 2022 that came to resuscitate PMMC by restoring the PMMC’s monopoly or give partial participation of PMMC in Gold buying and exporting from the Small Scale Mining Sector, using the Vault of BOG. This what GoldBod which took over from PMMC did in 2025. Thus GoldBod continued with the good work or the sins of PMMC with the restoration of PMMC’s partial monopoly in gold export but with the environment under threat, if not well managed. Hence, the idea of Transparency and Traceability which the CEO of GoldBod promised to ensure compliance, are must do actions effective 2026.

So, the success of GoldBod in 2025 is based on the foundation made by Dr Bawumia, and Dr Ernest Addison in the previous regime, as the Foundation Figures with DGPP and Lawyer Mr Sammy Gyamfi Esq and Governor Johnson Asiamah, for the continuity of the foundation made by Dr Bawumia and Governor Dr Ernest Addison. So these four Ghanaians need to be commended. We are building Ghana, hence Ghana’s history must be correct. So GoldBod should take note of these facts for correct history. Google Responsible Gold Sourcing Policy Framework of the Domestic Gold Purchase. Program’ and read confirmation.

Gold Board Act 2025 (Act 1140)
In 2025, the Regime of His Excellency President Mahama through Parliament established the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), with the Gold Board Act 2025 (Act 1140) (a). To oversee, monitor, and undertake the buying of gold from the Small Scale Miners through licensed buyers and, selling of same to GoldBod as the sole seller of the gold in Ghana and as the sole legal entity for assaying and the purchased of the assayed gold, and exporting same from Artisanal Small Mining Sector. (b). To be responsible for the Gold for Funds or Forex by buying 20% gold from all Large Scale Mining Companies not with the Ghana Chamber of Mines and exporting of gold from the Small Scale Mining Sector thus to regulate the trading of gold from the Small Scale Mining Sector and the Medium Scale Mining Sector, since the Multinationals under the Ghana Chamber of Mines are on Forward Agreement with LBMA accredited Refineries as Off-takers, so their Off takers will deal with Bank of Ghana through a Forward Sales Agreement for the 20% on their behalves.

Bawa Rock etc as Aggregators of Gold Board

In the conduct of the gold purchasing GoldBod by the Aggregators, so for the reason of not to deny the participation of old local buyers in gold trading before the establishment of the GoldBod, thus to allow competition and sustain the businesses of Ghanaians in the gold trading, GoldBod came out with eligibility criteria. The eligibility criteria of GoldBod is based on four tier systems of gold buying licenses for all authorized Agents to buy gold for GoldBod.

Tier one buyers are grassroots license buyers who can only buy gold from Small Scale Miners. Tier two buying license holders buy directly from the Small Scale Miners and Tier one License Holders using their own funds and it is possible that they may be sponsored by Senior Tier License Holders. Tier three buying license holders are self-financing Aggregators who did not meet very stringent eligibility criteria including the issue of insurance cover or Bank Guarantee as required of GoldBod, so they use their own funds to buy gold for miners and the lower Tiers License Holders for gold for GoldBod.

Tier four are Aggregators based on very stringent eligibility criteria especial as part of de-risk measures are the only group who receive funds from GoldBod to buy Gold from all the lower Tiers and if necessary from the Miners. So they must meet the eligibility criteria, among others are (a). Set of governance, (b) Legal, (c). Operational including strong vault, security level (d). Financial muscle of a minimum of Two Million US Dollars, as Bank guaranteed as insurance cover. (e). 3years experience in operations, preceding the date for application for the license.

According to GoldBod, since Tier 4 Aggregators are funded directly by Gold Board with tax payers’ money, 31 applicants applied for Tier Four Aggregators but only Bawa Rock, met the eligibility criteria especially funding backbone of bank guarantee or advance payment. GoldBod indicated it initially worked with three Tier 4 Aggregators including Bawa Rock but the two were suspended due to infraction and though the suspension has been lifted, the two are yet to pass the Tier 4 Litmus Test. Thus the Criteria created a sort of pyramidal hierarchical system for the Aggregators.

According to GoldBod, it secured agreement with nine large scale mining companies, for 20 percent gold at 1 percent discount, namely, TWM Mining Company in Obuasi, Akroma, Gold, Adamues, Cardinal Ndamini, and Earl International, Goldstone, Akrokkeri Ltd, Prestea Sankofa. Implying they were not part of Domestic Gold Purchase Program before 30 April 2025.

Payments is based on London Bullion Marketing with cash done payment in Cedis based on the daily interbank bank rate by Bank of Ghana effective June 2025 deposit OF Gold at Kotoka International Airport (KIA) when they seek to export. This Gold is sent to LBMA accredited Refineries for business with BOG.

Clause 6 of Article 257 of the 1992 Constitution is very clear, all minerals within Ghana belong to the people of Ghana, held in trust by the President, hence all gold found in Ghana must be accounted to or handed over to the President, or his Agent, the GoldBod to account for the minerals, as provided by Parliament.

So, by Clause 6 of Article 257 of the 1992 Constitution, gold found in Ghana whether from illegal and or legal Sources must be accepted and taken into account by the Agent of the President as GoldBod and accounted for, for public good. So, President Mahama was only adhering to the demand of Clause 6 of Article 257, when he said that Ghanaians must benefit from the minerals including Gold from the galamasey operators as well, which the Constitution placed in his custody, in trust for the Citizens. The Sale of gold from Galamasey operators must help the President to reclaim the damage areas. So the narrative that GoldBod buys gold from irresponsible miners is true because GoldBod is at the Downstream or Consumption or user Sector and not in the Upstream or gold production Sector.

It must be noted that by the physical handling of gold found in Ghana by GoldBod and the assaying of same, so gold from irresponsible mining by Artisanal and Small Scale Mining Sector with the associated enters the supply chain of GoldBod. Hence the idea of Traceability by the CEO of GoldBod and Review of the laws on Small Scale Mining are must do by Ghana.

It must be noted that some of the Large Scale Mining Companies not with the Ghana Chamber of Mines, those which BOG termed as Medium Scale Mining Companies in the past bought spent ore or tailings or fresh ore from Artisanal Miners, predominantly irresponsible. Google for ‘stop buying waste from Illegal Operators’.

The way forward
Ghana must understand that Guyana was the first Country to establish Gold Board in 1982. Between 2012 and 2014, Guyana Gold Board, a commercial or quasi-commercial entity experienced massive losses of about 10 billion Dollars due to holding large gold inventory like gold for Reserve (G4R). The loss was incurred during sharp drop in global price from 1,900 to 1240 US Dollars due to lack of hedging. Hence GoldBod need to study the story of Guyana Gold Board.

Ghana through the Minerals Commissions and GoldBod must ensure the application of the concepts of Transparency and Traceability as required by the Organization for Economic Development (OECD). Traceability is a risk based due diligence for doing business for responsible mineral Supply Chain by ensuring that the data, origin and ownership of minerals are built on trust and commercial sensibility.

Due diligence is to ensure responsible mining by the protection of the environment, protection of the economy (by curbing economic crime) and the protection of related Communities and taking their interest and concern on board and as well as social protection by curbing human right abuses. Due diligence is therefore to ensure the gold ore, the mining of the gold ore and other minerals are not conflict at the mine site, transporting routes, the trading up to refinery or the Off-taker.

The Due Diligence is a Risk assessment, risk mitigation and remediation mechanisms normally done in five steps (a) First Step: is by the establishment of Strong management systems for due diligence policies and internal control management control including grievances mechanism (b.) Second step: By identifying or assessing and priorities the risks, review info on supply chain to identify red flags. (c). Step 3 Manage the risk by reporting findings and the recommended control measures to senior management for the improvement internal control systems and oversight. (d). Step 4; By auditing points carry and out independent audit to check compliance of due diligence practices at control points and come out with remedies. (e). Step 5. Communicate and report on due diligence to the public, less business confidentiality and other competitive concerns, respond to Stakeholders questions, concerns and suggestions.

Thus Due Diligence required Management of GoldBod to be sober and patient to take criticisms from the general public especially from the opponents as well as by any Fifth Column to undermine public good. So GoldBod to take note of this.

Since Artisanal and Small Scale Mining Sector is characterized with irresponsible mining or nomadic mining acts and without the care to the environment, and interest of the Community. GoldBod and Large Scale Mining Companies need to support the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources and the Minerals Commission to come out with sound Community or Cooperative Mining and not more than 30 acres for Community Mining with the operators to be encouraged to navigate and or invest in Alternative Livelihood Projects.

GoldBod should not lower the eligibility criteria, Ghanaians should rather learn how to do joint business partnerships, to meet the Bank Guarantee and other requirements etc.

Based on some of the inputs made above, so as part of measures to avert or reduce the existential threat posed from the Small Scale Mining Sector to the barest minimum, the Government should study the situation and ban Small Scale Mining and declare State of Emergency which would help in mindset revolution especially for affected areas which is urgently needed in Ghana.

A Declaration of State of Emergency would ensure the Chinese Ambassador and others evacuate their nationals and their equipment from the field during the grace time granted for all to leave sites. A Declaration of State of Emergency will searches without warrant to seize weapons, ammo, explosives, mercury and cyanide. So that during the Declaration of State of Emergency, the Government Reviews the laws on Small Scale Mining as recommended by Dr Tony Aubyn. Google for Review laws on Small Scale Mining by Dr Tony Aubyn.

The Review of the laws on Small Scale Mining including the size of a concession is very necessary to allow for Community Mining for rural Communities, to be allowed if accepted by the affected Community. It should allow for a third category of Medium Scale Mining for Ghanaians tycoons to operate by complying with local and International Standards. Then the education of the public on requirements of for Community Mining for rural Communities and Medium Scale Mining.

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