'Galamsey Operators Are Foreigners'

It has been established that foreigners are the brains behind illegal mining, which is popularly called “galamsey.”

According to a report carried by the Ghana Chamber of Mines and the Business Advocacy Challenge (BUSAC), foreigners involved in the illegal mining business in the country include Chinese, Togolese, Malians and Burkinabes.

They are believed to be financing indigenous people to carry out the illegal mining operations.

Nevertheless, about 95 percent were not licensed to operate but were willing to do so if grounds were available, the report said.

At a validation or sensitization workshop on mainstreaming Artisanal and Small-scale Mining (ASM) yesterday, which involved all the mining companies in Ghana, legal and institutional, environmental, health and safety, security, encroachment and clashes, among others issues were said to be the major concerns of the illegal mining operators.

Led by Dr. Tony Aubynn, Corporate Affairs Director of Goldfields Ghana Limited, the study revealed that a total of 40,000 and 60,000 people were believed to be directly engaged in ASM in areas such as Obuasi, Prestea-Heman and Tarkwa.

“In Obuasi and Preseta-Heman, the reduction in mine workforce over the years had aggravated the situation,” it noted.

It was identified that about 95 percent of males and less than 5 percent of females were involved in ASM, while only 15-20 percent were believed to be indigenes of the operational areas.

The types of operations exhibited by the ASM operators were Dig-and-Wash, Open-pit and Underground (Obuasi), noting that the mercury used by many of operators posed as a threat to communities.

“Less than 5 percent of the operators had licenses to undertake ASM. Out of 46 ASM operators in the Western region who participated in the Focus Group Discussions (FGD), only two (4.3 percent) had licenses to operate,” the report added.

The report therefore suggested a holistic, mutli-stakeholder' approach that would involve the government, private sector, ASM operators, mining communities, Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs), donors, development agencies and civil society organizations.

The solution requires the formalization of ASM operations and sustained engagement and dialogue between mining communities and ASM operators.

ASM should be seen as a serious national issue since it can also contribute significantly to the national economy. They produce 425,000 ounces of gold annually while revenue generated is about $340 million.  

Over 360 people in four ASM communities (Wassa Akropong, Damang, Bogoso and Obuasi) participated in the FGD and in-depth interview, comprising of chiefs, the youth, community opinion leaders, ASM operators and representatives from mining companies.

Dr. Joyce Aryee, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ghana Chamber of Mines, stated that her outfit has supported the formalization of small-sale mining since “it has considerable benefits to the mining sector, local communities and the state.”

According to her, not only would it lead to employment generation; but also generate revenue for government, adding that they would ensure compliance with environmental regulations, among others.

By Charles Nixon Yeboah