The Association of Small Scale Miners has voiced strong opposition to a proposal by several national unions to impose a nationwide ban on small-scale mining, regardless of its legality.
This proposal, championed by the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) along with other health unions such as the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), the Government and Hospital Pharmacists Association (GHOSPA), and the Health Services Workers Union of Ghana (TUC), aims to address the environmental and health consequences caused by illegal mining activities.
Godwin Armah, General Secretary of the Association of Small Scale Miners, responded by insisting that such a ban would be unjust to legal operators. In an interview with the media, he argued that illegal miners should be specifically targeted instead of penalizing the entire sector.
“We will not sit for illegal operators to go and perpetrate illegality on our river bodies. They are not miners. Those in the forest reserves, they are not small-scale miners. Those working close to the roads are not small-scale miners,” Armah asserted.
“And you say because these people are perpetrating illegality, they should come and ban us who have gone through the process to acquire a license to work.”
Mr Armah also emphasized the role of the Minerals Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in regulating the sector and ensuring that illegal mining activities are curtailed.
The Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), mandates the Inspections and Compliance Division of the Minerals Commission to conduct mine inspections and enforce compliance with mining laws. The Act also ensures that licensed miners operate within legal boundaries.
It is the role of the EPA to ensure that the implementation of environmental policy and planning are integrated and consistent with the country’s desire for effective, long-term maintenance of environmental quality.
He further noted that it would be unfair to businesses operating legally to bear the financial burden of a ban. “If you are working as a mine and you put so much into it, even if they ban you for a week, two weeks, a month, or a year, you still have to maintain your mines,” he added.
Small-Scale mining’s role in Ghana’s economy
Ghana ranks among the top two gold producers in Africa. Research from 2021 shows that over 35% of the country’s gold output comes from artisanal and small-scale miners, supporting the livelihoods of an estimated 4.5 million Ghanaians—roughly 12% of the population. Small-scale mining also accounts for more than 60% of the mining sector’s labor force.
Despite the sector’s economic contribution, environmentalists and health professionals have raised alarms about the environmental degradation caused by illegal mining, also known as galamsey.
Rivers such as the Bonsa in the Western Region and the Pra in the Ashanti Region have suffered severe pollution due to toxic chemicals used in mining activities. Forest reserves, including the Tano Nimiri in the Western North Region and the Draw River in the Western Region, have also been heavily impacted.
In a joint statement, the health unions calling for the ban warned that Ghana is on the brink of an environmental catastrophe. “If not addressed immediately, [this situation] will severely endanger the health, well-being, and future of its citizens,” the statement emphasized.
The unions urged the government to strengthen regulatory enforcement and empower security agencies to clamp down on those flouting environmental laws and prosecute them expeditiously.
History of Small-Scale Mining Regulation
Small-scale mining was legitimized through the Small-Scale Mining Act (PNDCL 218) and later incorporated into the current Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703). The law requires prospective miners to apply for a license to mine up to 25 acres of land. It also reserves small-scale mining for Ghanaians, aiming to formalize the sector and curb illegal activities.
Ghana’s battle with galamsey has been ongoing for years, with several interventions introduced to address the issue, including military operations, temporary bans, dialogues, and community mining initiatives.
In 2017, President Nana Akufo-Addo’s administration imposed a nationwide ban on small-scale mining, which lasted until 2019. During that period, the government launched Operation Vanguard, a military initiative that aimed to root out illegal mining activities. Hundreds of arrests were made, and mining equipment was seized.
By December 2018, around 1,350 miners had been vetted, and about 900 licenses were issued. In 2019, the ban was lifted, with small-scale miners contributing 2.1 million ounces of gold, accounting for 43.1% of total national production that year.
For small-scale mining companies to operate, they must secure permits from the EPA, Minerals Commission, and Water Resource Commission, in addition to having tax identification numbers.
Political parties’ vision for small-scale miners
The recent calls for a ban contrast sharply with the plans of Vice President and New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. Speaking to small-scale miners and youth groups in Tarkwa, Dr. Bawumia pledged to transform small-scale miners into “millionaires” through policies designed to improve their livelihoods.
He promised that under his leadership, every district would have a mining committee that would issue temporary licenses in consultation with local chiefs. His vision for the sector is rooted in formalizing operations and ensuring that mining remains a viable source of income for millions of Ghanaians.
Also, the leader of the Movement for Change and a presidential aspirant for the 2024 general elections, Alan Kyerematen, has pledged to create legal private firms for young people involved in illegal mining, commonly known as “galamsey.”
Speaking to the media during his campaign tour, Mr Kyerematen emphasized the need for a new approach to the issue, which has plagued many communities across Ghana.
He noted that in many mining centres, just as in areas where agriculture or fishing is dominant, mining is considered a primary livelihood by the locals. Mr Kyerematen proposed that the government develop “a new business model to create a legitimate framework” for young people to engage in mining activities legally.