President John Mahama
Small scale miners in Ghana have made a passionate and urgent call on President John Dramani Mahama to institute a probe into the operations of an illegal anti-galamsey task force.
This task force, formed by some self-centred individuals claiming to be powerful, has been undermining the government’s efforts to tackle illegal mining and threatening the activities of licensed small-scale miners.
A recent report from the Western Region indicated that the illegal task force clashed with the government’s National Anti-Galamsey Task Force, a situation that nearly caused a major disturbance. However, through the intervention of the sector minister, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the National Anti-Galamsey Task Force was called back.
Sources said the illegal task force later blocked the National Task Force’s route to Accra, asking them to surrender, and it took several hours before tensions died out.
According to the miners, recent attacks by the illegal task force have seen them brutalise and seize machines, as well as the destruction of a brand new SUV car.
The miners are of the strong position that, if a committee is set up to investigate the matter, the government’s efforts to tackle illegal mining activities will be achieved.
Licensed small-scale miners will also have the peace to operate and contribute their quota to national development, they added.
The miners are calling on the government to take immediate action to disband the illegal task force and ensure that the legitimate mining industry is protected.
This illegal task force recently stormed other licensed mining sites in the Ashanti Region with their unauthorised operations, extorting millions of cedis from small scale miners.
Within a space of one week, the National Small Scale Miners Association and the Ghana Concerned Small Scale Miners have held separate press conferences to complain about the state of their businesses.
The miners expressed their frustration and disappointment over the attacks by the illegal task force.
The National Small Scale Miners Association called on the government to take decisive action against the illegal task force. The association argued that the actions of the task force are not only damaging to their businesses but also undermining the government’s efforts to regulate the mining industry.
The Ghana Concerned Small Scale Miners also expressed their concern about the safety and security of miners and their equipment. The association called on the government to provide protection for licensed small-scale miners and ensure that they can operate without fear of attack.
The miners are worried that if the government does not take immediate action, the situation will escalate, and more miners will be affected. They are calling on the government to take a firm stance against the illegal task force and ensure that the rule of law is upheld.
The government has been urged to set up a committee to investigate the activities of the illegal task force. The committee should identify those behind the illegal task force and bring them to justice.