Some participants at the programme
The Minerals Commission is poised to ensure that licensed small scale miners operating in the country do not indulge in irresponsible mining.
According to the Commission, the small scale mining scheme is intended to provide a controlled mining regime in the Artisanal Small Scale Mining Industry in an effort to stop illegal mining.
The Commission noted that the country’s Mining Act criminalisesillegal mining (galamsey) and makes it an offense punishable with years of imprisonment for persons who engage in the act.
It has, therefore, cautioned small scale miners not to engage in acts that can cause wanton destruction to water bodies and the country’s forests.
Emmanuel Oppong Arthur, Tarkwa District Officer of the Minerals Commission, stated this in an interview with journalists during a sensitisation programme organised for some licensed small scale miners in Ellembelle on responsible mining.
The programme was sponsored by the World Bank in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.
The essence of the training programme was among other things to sensitise the miners on how to mine responsibly.
The participants were taken through mining without causing harm to water bodies, various safety measures and how the land can be reclaimed after mining among other topics.
Mr. Oppong Arthur explained that the Minerals Commission regulates small scale mining activities, adding that before licences are issued to small scale miners, the Chief Inspector of Mines will have to do thorough inspection of the respective sites.
The Chief Inspector would ensure whether it is appropriate to mine at a site and whether the miners’ activities would not cause harm to any water body.
“However, the problem we are facing now is the activities of illegal miners who do not have any law regulating them,” he pointed out.
“So we want the difference to be clear, hence the need to ensure responsible mining within the small scale mining sector,” he stressed.
Later in an interview with some of the miners, they thanked the organisers for the initiative.
They believed that the training will be of great help to them,stating that at times they spend lots of time and resources working at a particular site without getting anything.
“But with this training, we have realised that before we begin mining we have to consult an expert to come and inspect the space or site before we start working,” they disclosed.
A popular small scale miner in the Ellembelle area, who gave his name as ‘Chief Boss’, appealed to government to implore on Adamus Mining to give a portion of their concession to the youth in the area for small scale mining activities.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Ellembelle