The National Concerned Small Scale Miners Association of Ghana (NCSSMAG) has endorsed the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and its flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama.
The Association says whereas the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) 2020 manifesto is empty on plans for the small-scale mining sector, the NDC’s 2020 manifesto inspires hope with clear-cut plans to revive the ailing industry.
A statement signed by the executives of the association said their decision stems out of “careful interrogation of the manifestos of the two front-running political parties in the upcoming elections and the attitudes of their respective governments towards the small-scale mining sector in the last eight years.”
“We cannot forget the two bad years of the ban on all forms of small-scale mining activities by the current NPP administration led by President Akufo-Addo, which rendered us hopeless and saddled with debts, broke our homes and sent many of us to the grave,” it added.
Speaking to Citi News, Secretary for the Association, Ebenezer Ayehu said the over 800,000 artisanal miners across the country will rally behind the NDC to secure power.
“We, the executives and members of small-scale miners are going to endorse John Dramani Mahama because of the promises he has made to us some of which is the availability of leases. Akufo-Addo on the other hand has handled us poorly, some excavators have been seized, we do not know their whereabouts.”
“We have decided to vote for John Mahama. In fact, we are going round to campaign for him,” he added.
I’ll return excavators, concessions seized by NPP government – Mahama
The flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, says he will retrieve all confiscated excavators and concessions belonging to small scale miners reportedly given to New Patriotic Party sympathizers if he wins the 2020 elections.
The flagbearer of the NDC said this when he addressed a durbar of chiefs and people of Agona Amenfi in the Amenfi Central district on day one of his four-day campaign tour of the Western Region.
Former President Mahama said the NPP government has deceived miners and failed at his promise to fix the problems facing small-scale miners in the country hence he will address such issues.