National Organiser for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Joseph Yamin, has called on President John Dramani Mahama to immediately halt all anti-illegal mining operations across the country, alleging that some task forces are exploiting the exercise for personal gains.
Yamin made this appeal at Bonteso in the Amansei West District of the Ashanti Region on Thursday, August 21, following a misunderstanding between some community members and the Inspector-General of Police’s task force.
According to him, the Military and the Police must take the lead role in effectively combating illegal mining. However, he claimed that some of the task forces are taking advantage of the exercise to enrich themselves instead of addressing the core issues.
He stressed that the government continues to spend huge sums of money in fighting the menace, yet the approach remains problematic. To this end, he assured small-scale miners that the government is committed to protecting their activities while ensuring fairness in the fight against “galamsey.”
Highlighting the importance of the sector, Yamin noted that small-scale mining contributes significantly to the economy, particularly by creating employment.
“I am, by this moment, telling the president to, as a matter of urgency, order the stop of any mining operation being carried out. What the taskforces are doing cannot be said as a fight to stop illegal mining; rather, they are extorting money and creating problems. So, the president should order the IGP, Minister of the Interior, to order every task force to immediately halt all operations,” he declared.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Small-Scale Miners in the Ashanti Region, Frank Osei, has urged anti-illegal mining operatives to exercise restraint in their activities. According to him, not all small-scale miners are engaged in the destruction of forests and water bodies.
He added that the small-scale mining sector has provided vital jobs for the youth, particularly in communities such as Bonteso, and should be safeguarded.
