The Responsible Small-Scale Miners Association in Ghana says they have the capacity to help the country alleviate the menace of illegal mining which has currently become an existential threat.
The group says they can even fight the menace better than both the military and police hence there is no need for the government to declare a state of emergency as demanded by Organised Labour.
Justifying their capacity to ward off illegal mining in an interview with The High Street Journal, President of the Association says since they live in the bush with these illegal miners, they know all their hideouts during the day and night and hence can flush them out.
The association further states that given their capacity to fight the menace head-on, they vehemently oppose the calls for a total ban on all small-scale mining activities. Philip Bawah says such a ban will negatively impact their businesses as people who are engaged in legal and responsible mining.
“We know them and we can go after them better than any other person. That is why we are saying that there is no need for any military or security personnel to be deployed at this time. It will disrupt our business because they don’t understand our business.”
He continued that, “The military is not meant to stay in the bush for a long period. They will come and go and the people will go behind them and by the time they come back, they have caused another havoc. For us we are always on the grounds with them. We know where they live. We know how they operate. If they don’t operate in day time they go in the night. If they go in the night, we are there with them. If they go day, we are there.”
The association says it will be injustice and inhumane on the part of the government to declare a state of emergency and ban all small-scale mining activities since they are doing legal and responsible mining.
However, renowned journalist, Erastus Asare Donkor who has widely covered the galamsey menace says he is yet to see any small-scale miner engage in responsible mining.
Speaking on Accra-based Joy FM on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, he challenged them to invite him to a small-scale mining site doing responsible mining and he is ready to film and show to the entire world.
Meanwhile, the association says they are staging a demonstration on October 12, 2024, in Accra to protest against Organised Labour’s decision to embark on a nationwide strike.
