The National Concerned Small-Scale Miners Association, Ghana has endorsed the government’s proposed cooperative mining scheme as an alternative approach to formalizing unlicensed mining activities and promoting responsible small-scale mining.
The association’s president, Michael Kwadwo Peprah, said the approach could help regulate the sector, create employment opportunities for the youth and ensure that mining activities are conducted in accordance with the law.
In a press statement, Mr. Peprah argued that successive attempts to combat illegal mining through military and law enforcement operations had failed to deliver the desired results, despite significant financial investment.
He cited operations such as Operation Vanguard and GalamStop, arguing that the use of force had not addressed the underlying reasons many people engage in illegal mining.
“ As a country, we cannot continue doing the same thing every day and expect different results,” the statement said, calling for a shift towards formalizing miners who are willing to operate responsibly.
Mr. Peprah said the cooperative mining scheme would complement the existing small-scale mining licensing regime, which he described as inadequate to address the challenges in the sector.
He argued that providing miners with a legal framework to operate would enable the government to monitor their activities more effectively and ensure compliance with environmental and mining regulations.
According to him, the approach would also help create sustainable jobs for young people while allowing the country to benefit economically from small-scale mining without compromising environmental protection.
Call for a shift in approach
The association said Ghana’s efforts to combat illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, had relied heavily on enforcement operations, with limited success.
Mr. Peprah claimed that the country had spent nearly US$500 million on efforts to fight illegal mining without achieving the intended results under the precious government.
He maintained that formalization offered a more sustainable alternative, particularly because mining remained an important source of livelihood for many young people.
The association, therefore, urged the government to prioritize responsible mining practices rather than rely solely on the arrest, prosecution and displacement of miners.
Forest reserves and environmental protection
The statement also accused the previous government of allowing mining activities in forest reserves, claiming that about 47 forest reserves had been opened to mining.
Mr. Peprah alleged that the previous administration’s approach was politically influenced and failed to adequately protect the environment.
He welcomed the current government’s stated measures to protect forest reserves, including their designation as security zones and the prohibition of mining in those areas.
The association said environmental protection should remain central to efforts to formalize the small-scale mining sector, stressing that job creation must not come at the expense of forests, water bodies and other natural resources.
Concerns over previous community mining schemes
Mr. Peprah also criticized the implementation of community mining schemes under the previous administration, claiming that the initiative had been politicized and had failed to achieve its objectives.
He alleged that some schemes were launched to benefit foreign nationals, particularly Chinese miners, rather than Ghanaian communities.
The association argued that the proposed cooperative mining model should avoid the shortcomings it attributed to previous initiatives by ensuring that Ghanaian miners benefit from formalization and that operations are properly regulated.
It maintained that the government’s approach should balance employment creation, environmental sustainability and effective oversight of mining activities.
The association reaffirmed its support for efforts to bring unlicensed miners into the formal economy, saying responsible and regulated mining could help protect livelihoods, safeguard the environment and contribute to national development.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
