The Small-Scale Miners Association of Ghana has announced plans to suspend activities for two months in protest against what it described as extortion, intimidation, and harassment by security officials tasked with combating illegal mining.
According to the association, rogue elements among police officers, soldiers, immigration officers, and politicians are using their positions to intimidate miners and extort money from them.
Speaking on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, Michael Adu Gyamfi, an executive member of the association, disclosed that leadership is currently meeting to decide on their next course of action. He stressed that the continuous harassment is severely threatening their livelihoods, as task force members routinely demand money from fully licensed, legal miners.
He served notice that the association is prepared to halt operations regardless of the consequences.
“As I speak with you, we are planning to suspend work. It is about time we send a clear message that small-scale mining is not a crime. We have been treated unfairly. I am encouraging all small-scale miners to join this agenda and let us suspend work for two months and see the repercussions. It seems the benefits of small-scale mining are being taken for granted.”
Speaking to host Kwabena Agyapong, Adu Gyamfi criticized the recent enforcement strategies in the sector, warning that the business will remain unsustainable until systemic changes are made.
“We have discovered how reckless the system has turned into. We want to draw the attention of authorities to our plight. The way small-scale mining is being regulated through the use of force is alarming. It has become a means through which those tasked to deal with galamsey and regulate the sector are making money out of licensed small-scale miners. They are extorting monies from us. Every single day, we have the police, immigration, soldiers, and other security officers as well as politicians extorting from us. When you go to Kumasi, we have three different teams of security officers storming our sites and demanding money from our members. It is unfortunate and it must stop.”
He reiterated that brute force will not resolve the illegal mining menace, noting that past military-style crackdowns have proven to be a total failure in the fight against galamsey.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana