The Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners has commended the government and the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel A. Jinapor for allowing some of its members to be on the National Taskforce against illegal mining.
The Association says the ongoing efforts by the sector Minister and rightful policies and interventions by government are the surest ways to curb the illegal mining menace in the country.
General Secretary of the Association, Mr. Godwin Armah said this on behalf of the Association at a forum with the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources in Dunkwa-on-Offin in the Central Region.
He said “for the first time in the country, the Association has been made part of the National taskforce against illegal mining. We want to thank the government and the sector Minister for this”.
Mr Godwin Armah further appealed to the sector Minister to assist them with seedlings to aid their reclamation efforts after mining.
He also called for the Ministry’s timely intervention in stoping the perennial challenge of gold smuggling and the reduction of taxes on their operations to serve as incentives and help curb the gold smuggling canker.
The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. George Mireku Duker who spoke on behalf of the sector Minister, said the Association was not mandated to establish district taskforces since such move was unlawful.
He however called for continuous support from the association to help government streamline the mining sector particularly the small scale mining in Ghana.