Address The Galamsey Issues Immediately or Risk Losing the 2020 Elections

Solomon Owusu, a mining engineer based in Colorado, USA and the campaign strategist for Richard Ahiagbah, the Aspiring NPP General Secretary for the just ended NPP elections, has cautioned the government to solve the galamsey problems with utmost urgency or risk losing the 2020 elections. In his view, some NPP MPs may lose their seats in addition to the party finding itself in a tight situation. He made this pronouncement when he was interviewed by Kaakyire Kwasi Appiah-Apraku during Power 97.9 FM morning show on Wednesday July 11, 2018 in Accra. He also spoke to some dignitaries in politics after the radio show.

The concerned NPP former California-USA executive, a mining engineer and a strategist pleaded with the government to allow the legally licensed small-scale mining companies to operate under strict monitoring and rather deal with the illegal miners and the foreign nationals involved. Solomon cautioned the government to urgently address this small-scale mining matter by engaging qualified professionals in the mining discipline to steer the affairs or risk losing massive votes in those areas. In his opinion, the small-scale mining regularization roadmap should not take more than 3 months and hence, he can’t fathom why the matter has lasted to this far.

According to Solomon, campaign in galamsey communities was one of the strategies used to support Mr. Ahiagbah to obtain the massive votes that surprised the elephant family and the whole nation. He admonished the government to consider the just ended party officers election as a fulcrum to solve the small-scale mining issues in Ghana because most of the miners have vowed to vote against NPP in 2020. “I have toured some of the mining areas and I saw how some delegates were aggrieved to vote against the existing acting party leaders and unseat President Nana Akufo Addo in 2020”, Solomon cautioned.

Explaining what contributed to the 23% votes gained by someone who was described by delegates as “alien” in the party against the acting General Secretary who was already famous, Solomon said Richard’s campaign team realized strong support for John Boadu in the cities but saw weaknesses in the rural areas, especially the small-scale mining areas and therefore the team strengthened their message across those weak areas. He noted that party members in the small-scale areas are currently suffering because they have been rendered unemployed. “How do you expect angry delegates to vote for you? Is it possible?”, He questioned.

In his opinion, the feeling of rejection and indifference towards the miners’ current worsened economic situation may be capitalized upon by the opposition parties in the 2020 general elections. He drew the attention of the party leadership to consider the “galamsey” issue as a critical one and hence, work with the government to make sure the miners get back to work but operate in environmentally friendly manner. He believes this move can immensely help the party to sustain power in 2020. “Prez Nana Addo can achieve all his campaign promises but the votes lost by more than 1.5 million registered and unregistered miners and their dependants can affect the party’s victory in the upcoming general elections. The best option is to create conducive registration procedures for the illegal miners to register and operate legally”, He advised.

“If one small-scale miner takes care of one wife and two kids, then we should think of 6 million people affected by this small-scale mining ban. Also, let’s consider the traders in those areas who are highly affected by the ban and the effects created in the local economies of those areas. The government promised to take care of miners while they are home waiting for the ban lift but nothing of that sort has ever happened. Do you think such people would vote for any existing party executive during the elections and again, vote for NPP in 2020? No way!!”, he reprimanded.

Solomon stressed that it is possible to solve the problem because Ghana is not the only country where small-scale mining operations are conducted. He reminded the government that small-scale mining is the source of livelihood for most of the people living in the mining areas. “According to World Bank’s 2013 report on sustainable development, about 80 countries operate artisanal and small-scale mining across the world and 45 countries operate in Africa. Again, according to Ghana’s Minerals Commission 2016 gold production report, the small-scale miners produced more than 30% of Ghana’s total gold in that year. It is therefore imperative that the government listens to the miners’ requests but strengthens the monitoring aspect of their operations to save our lands and water bodies” He counselled.

Selecting the right people for the job is more important in dealing with the galamsey menace. Mistakes are costly, and we cannot continue with the path that attempts to solve technical problems with political appointees with no fundamental knowledge in the said discipline. Although chairing a committee is an administrative work, it is better to put a knowledgeable person in charge to save cost and produce effective and efficient result. Professor Frimpong Boateng is an astute medical doctor but being the chairman of this important mining committee without any knowledge in what he is doing is a big problem. Also, none of these ministers in the committee has any knowledge in mining and I believe that is causing the delay in resolving the problem. Can you put square pegs in a round holes and expect meaningful results? Are we serious as a country?” He exclaimed.

“Where are the mines inspectors in this country? What are they doing as far as monitoring is concerned? If the government had engaged qualified mining professionals to handle this galamsey problem, the ban should have been lifted by now”, he challenged the government. According to Solomon, the country cannot continue with the pace at which the government is moving with this galamsey matter. Let’s imagine how the banks are demanding their loans from the miners and the economic burden of having to service loans whilst not working. The earlier the government solves the problem, the better it will be for NPP in 2020. “I know some party members may not like what I am saying but that is the truth”, He stressed.

Responding to the questions on how the small-scale mining problems can be solved, Solomon said there is a team of 30 Ghanaian mining experts living in USA, Canada, Australia, South Africa and Ghana who are voluntarily conducting due diligence fieldwork to understand the problems and find solutions to them. He said the team is currently touring all the 8 small-scale mining operating regions in the country to interact with the miners and integrate their views into their recommendations to government. Solomon disclosed that the team is willing to work with the Lands and Natural Resources Ministry to ensure that the miners adopt sustainable methods for mining with minimized or no environmental degradation.