Small-scale miners plot demo against organised labour
The Responsible Small-scale Miners Association of Ghana (RSSMAG) says it would protest in Accra on Friday, against Organised Labour’s intended strike and calls for the ban on mining in the country.
According to the RSSMAG, the Organised Labour’s advocacy for a ban on mining to help curb illegal mining (galamsey) was not the solution to the problem.
The National President of the Association, Philip Bawah, disclosed this at a meeting on Tuesday, with the Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr George Mireku Duker, at Manso Amenfi, in the Amenfi Central District of the Western Region.
The meeting was part of a nationwide campaign following calls for a ban on mining in the country.
Mr Bawah announced that preparations were underway for the groups to depart to Accra today (Thursday) to join the demonstration.
He noted that some illegal miners had caused significant damage to water bodies, however, organised labour’s stance “is not the solution to this century-long problem.”
Mr Bawah rather advocated a comprehensive approach that addressed the root causes of illegal mining.
He maintained that the small-scale mining sub-sector of the economy contributed about 40 per cent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
He argued that efforts at banning responsible mining groups would be suicidal for the industry that played a critical role in Ghana’s economy.
“We are talking about 10 million people along the value chain. The fuel stations which supply about 300 litres per day, excavator renting, spare parts, gold and jewelry shops. The calls will collapse the small scale mining businesses.”
For his part, Mr Duker encouraged small scale miners to ensure that the agenda to sanitise the mining industry and also protect river bodies succeeded to safeguard their economy and livelihoods.
He said the protection of water bodies and safeguarding the integrity of the environment were crucial to sustain the future of Ghana’s mining industry.
He, however, called for a collective effort and national dialogue to confront the present challenges of mining devoid of partisanship and brinkmanship.
The Deputy Minister told the small-scale miners that, much as they desired to participate in Ghana’s mining industry and economy, they need to support government’s drive to ensure river bodies were clean and safe.
He said it was crucial that the groups joined the crusade for responsible mining in communities so that they were not trapped by future eventualities which they would live to regret.
“We have tried and tested the military and it’s not the option and never worked and so we need to revise our notes; that it’s not the solution to the menace of illegal mining,” Mr Duker said.
Meanwhile, small scale miners at Wassa Akropong, on Tuesday, as part of campaigns against the ban on mining, also held a protest at the Wassa Amenfi East District Assembly offices.
Clad in red, the groups including women, wailed and sang dirges, saying “The ban will cripple our businesses”, “Kill us now! If you ban our work, we’ll not vote”, “We are also Ghanaians, where do we get our livelihoods?” they cried.
A Divisional Chief of Wassa Akropong, Nana Ntori Bonkyi, re-echoed campaigns to flush out the bad nuts operating on river bodies and also the strict enforcement of the regulations on buffer zones along rivers banks.
The mining groups, he said, were prepared to support government efforts to sanitise the river systems and protect the environment.