Small-Scale Miners Support New Policy

By Justice Dzido On Dec 17, 2018

An association of small-scale miners in the country says it supports the new mining policy framework introduced on Friday by the government.

The Concerned Small Scale Miners Union of Ghana (CSSMUG) has promised to ensure that the new policy is adhered to by all its members ahead of the start of small-scale mining on Monday, December 17.

“We wish to assure the good people of Ghana of our strict resolve at ensuring the new policy is adhered to by all our members even as we ready ourselves to go back to our various concessions to commence work. While we welcome the lifting of the ban wholeheartedly, we would not lose sight from the scathing effects it brought on our lives, families and the general economy of Ghana, especially in the various mining districts.

“We would support every effort of government at safeguarding the environment and our water bodies for posterity’s sake and for the general well being of our generation.

We, however, wish to advocate that in future, if the government ever wishes to

streamline the activities of any other sector of business, it must be done expeditiously, thoroughly and more humanely,” the association assured in a press release issued on Friday, December 14.

The government on Friday announced the lifting of the ban on small-scale mining, effective today.

Minister for Environment, Science, Technology & Innovation, Prof. Kwabena Frimpong Boateng said on Friday, December 14, 2018, that the two-year ban is being lifted because an Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) has successfully developed a comprehensive policy framework to regularise small-scale mining across the country.

He, however, stressed that only small-scale miners that have had mining concessions validated will be allowed to mine in designated areas.

“The ban on small-scale mining is being lifted for the compliant ones to go back to work within the regularised and reformed framework. The list of complaint miners will be published in the electronic and print media on Monday, 17^th December 2018,” the Minister said during the launch of the framework at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC).