The Small-Scale Miners Association of Ghana has accused President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s government of targeting its members in the renewed fight against illegal mining, also known as galamsey.
The Association said instead of fighting the menace, the government has directed its taskforce to harass its members who are properly licensed to carry out mining activities in specific areas.
Last week, the government announced it has enhanced measures to strengthen the ongoing “Operation Halt,” led by the Ghana Armed Forces, aimed at eliminating illegal mining activities in water bodies.
Speaking to Power Kasiebo on October 16, 2024, the President of the Association, Michael Kwadwo Peprah, said the task force was ordered not to enter forest reserves because NPP appointees are mining in those areas.
After a week of the team’s operations, the small-scale miners have described the operation as a PR gimmick, claiming that government appointees with mining concessions in forest reserves have been exempted and are still destroying reserved forests and the rivers passing through them.
“The government said we are fighting galamsey, but they have directed the soldiers not to go to the forest reserves and rather focus on the river bodies. So, those mining in the forest, are they not part of the illegal miners?” he questioned and alleged that many government appointees have been handed mining cocessions in forest reserves in the Ashanti Region.
He mentioned the Kumasi Mayor, Sam Pyne, as one of the appointees destroying forest reserves in the region.
“Some well-known NPP members are mining in forest reserves. Chinese are also involved in forest mining. Now, they have directed the soldiers not to go into the forest reserves but to the river bodies. We, the small-scale miners who have licenses, are being attacked instead.
“They have shared the forest reserves for people to mine. A well-known NPP people. Someone like Sam Pyne has been given a forest reverse to mine around the Numeriso area. And as I speak, Chinese are mining at that place,” he added.
Source: Myxyzonline.com
