Mr. Kwaku Duah, the Ashanti Regional Organiser of the Small Scale Mining Association, has praised Vice President Dr. Muhammudu Bawumia for the good measures he has outlined to protect the country’s water bodies from destruction by the activities of illegal miners (galamseyers) if elected.
Speaking in an interview with Asona Dehyie Kwateng, the association’s organiser, Mr. Kwaku Duah, said that sustainable small-scale mining will protect our environment and protect workers as well.
He was reacting to the recent visionary promises made by the second gentleman of the land, Dr. Muhamudu Bawumia, where he pledged to help grow small-scale mining companies into large-scale mining companies with capacity building and assist them in accessing financing to acquire equipment.
The Vice President and NPP Presidential Candidate, Dr. Bawumia, addressing Ghanaians on Ghana’s Next Chapter: Selfless Leadership and Bold Solutions for the Future, said he will support the Minerals Commission and key stakeholders to formalise the Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) sector to ensure that the activities of the entire value chain are sustainably and responsibly done so that most of the gold produced by the sector can be sold to the Bank of Ghana (BoG) and be eligible to be part of the gold reserves of the central bank.
Dr. Bawumia said he would licence all miners doing responsible mining. The District Mining Committee, including chiefs, will provide initial temporary licences to miners.
He said that as long as miners mine within the limits of their licences, no mining in rivers or water bodies, there will be no more seizure or burning of excavators.
