The Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners (GNASSM) has expressed grave concern over the systematic harassment, intimidation and alleged extortion of small-scale miners by some elements within the law enforcement agencies and politically exposed persons.
Mr Abdul-Razak Alhasaan, National Communication Director of the Association at a news conference in Kumasi called on the government to intervene and protect the rights of small-scale miners.
According to him, small-scale miners in various regions are being targeted and terrorised by security agencies and politically exposed persons who manipulate the system for profit and power.
The association alleged that some police officers and security agencies storm mining sites, confiscate equipment, demand illegal payments, and violently eject miners from land they have been legally licensed to mine.
GNASSM is, therefore, demanding stronger protection for licensed small-scale miners, including clear protocols for police operations on mining sites.
The association has, therefore, suggested that the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operation Secretariat (NAIMOS) should be adequately resourced to handle illegal mining issues in a more coordinated approach.
It proposed an alternative approach that involves engaging with illegal miners and working with them to correct the mess they have created and formalise their operations where practicable and assured that the association was prepared to lead in realising this approach if given the opportunity.
GNASSM also called for capacity building for security agencies to understand the small-scale mining operations and licensing regime suggesting that Regulatory agencies like the Minerals Commission should be part of the operations of the taskforce to reduce the rate at which licensed small-scale miners are abused.
It said the small-scale mining sector has huge socioeconomic prospects if properly managed highlighting the employment opportunities, supply of raw gold for value addition, and integration into the local economy as benefits that cannot be overemphasised. GNASSM also demanded the immediate release of all excavators and other machinery seized from licensed small-scale mining sites.
The association calls on all stakeholders to demand accountability and justice for small-scale miners, emphasizing that “if justice does not reach the deepest pits where miners toil under the sun, then our democracy is only a word, not a reality.
