Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, George Mireku Duker, and Mr. Samuel Koku Sitsofe Anyidoho, CEO of the Atta-Mills Institute, and have called on unions and civil society organizations to reconsider their push for a total ban on small-scale mining.
They urged these groups to rather focus on supporting government efforts to combat illegal mining (galamsey) while promoting responsible small-scale mining practices.
On Saturday, October 19, 2024, Mr. Anyidoho joined a delegation led by Mireku Duker to visit licensed small-scale mining companies in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality of the Western Region. The tour included stops at the Tarkwa Community Mining Scheme, Mohammed Brothers Ltd, Johnson Mining Services Ltd, and Dakete Mining Company Ltd.
The companies provided an overview of their operations, including safety measures, mining procedures, and mineral processing techniques. After the tour, Mr. Anyidoho stressed that responsible small-scale mining companies should not be lumped together with those engaging in galamsey.
“Galamsey has become a very big issue, so it’s a crisis. Unfortunately, the discourse is that all small-scale licenses must be taken away. We have quacks and bad people in every profession, but it will be unfair to join the call without coming here firsthand,” Anyidoho said.
He emphasized that the focus should be on separating responsible miners from those violating regulations, adding, “The protection of the river bodies is critical, but all we see are the destroyed water bodies and not the companies who are engaged in responsible small-scale mining.”
Hon. Mireku Duker echoed these sentiments, defending the importance of small-scale mining for Ghana’s economic growth. He reiterated his commitment to advocating for responsible small-scale mining, saying, “We can only use ownership from small-scale mining to middle-tier and then to the conglomerate. As Ghanaians, while we have enacted laws to regulate small-scale mining, I must be the one championing it.”
Duker reassured the public that the government will continue to fight illegal mining while supporting lawful small-scale miners, adding, “I’m happy to see Ghanaians like you managing a facility like this because it means the benefits will remain in the country.”