Following a tour of some small-scale mining companies in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality in the Western Region, Mr. Samuel Koku Sitsofe Anyidoho, the Chief Executive Officer of the Atta-Mills Institute (AMI), has urged Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and all persons calling for a total ban on small-scale mining to reconsider their campaign and rather focus on complementing the government\u2019s efforts in fighting illegal mining (galamsey).<\/p>\n On Saturday, October 19, 2024, Mr. Anyidoho joined a delegation led by the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, responsible for Mines, Hon. George Mireku Duker, MP to visit some licensed small-scale mining companies in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality of the Western Region.<\/p>\n The team visited the Tarkwa Community Mining Scheme, Mohammed Brothers Ltd, Johnson Mining Services Ltd, and Dakete Mining Company Ltd, all in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality.<\/p>\n During the tour, the companies took the delegation through a safety induction, mining procedures through the shaft-rail-locomotive ore\/logistics hauling system, mineral processing, and tailings management.<\/p>\n Addressing the media at the end of the tour, Mr. Koku Anyidoho noted that contrary to the public narrative, most small-scale mining companies are engaged in responsible and sustainable mining.<\/p>\n Mr. Anyidoho believes that the organizations and persons clamoring for a total ban on small-scale mining do not fully appreciate the issues at hand, as his experience has made him realize that the galamsey menace is not being perpetrated by all small-scale mining companies.<\/p>\n He urged members of the \u2018ban small-scale mining\u2019 brigade not to generalize the issues, as the situation on the ground does not support their claims, and promised to be an advocate for responsible small-scale miners.<\/p>\n \u201cGalamsey has become a very big issue, so it\u2019s a crisis. Unfortunately, the discourse is that all small-scale licenses must be taken away. We have quacks and bad people in every profession, but it will be unfair to join the call without coming here firsthand\u201d, he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe protection of the river bodies is critical, but all we see are the destroyed water bodies and not the companies who are engaged in responsible small-scale mining. The discourse is that everybody with a small-scale mining license must have it revoked, but I believe we should separate the chaff from what is good so that we can have people advocating for you,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Hon. George Mireku Duker, in a brief address to the press, explained that his consistent defense and advocacy for responsible small-scale mining is in tandem with his role as a Member of Parliament who has sworn fealty to the law.<\/p>\n According to him, as long as the country\u2019s laws make provision for Ghanaians to engage in small-scale mining, he will advance their cause and fight for them.<\/p>\n Beyond the law, Hon. Duker\u2019s commitment to the small-scale mining industry is due to his absolute belief that it is the only means through which Ghanaians can grow to become owners of large-scale mining companies.<\/p>\n The Deputy Minister also condemned galamsey, reiterating the point that the government will continue to fight against the menace.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can only use ownership from small-scale mining to middle-tier and then to the conglomerate. As Ghanaians, while we have enacted laws to regulate small-scale mining, I must be the one championing it. Once we\u2019ve agreed as MPs to enact laws for small-scale mining, I will continue to protect that law. It is the reason I keep on championing small-scale mining. I\u2019m happy to see Ghanaians like you managing a facility like this because it means the benefits will remain in the country. Employees are all Ghanaians.\u201d<\/p>\n Watch the latest edition of BizTech below:<\/b><\/p>\n![\"Deputy](\"https:\/\/cdn.ghanaweb.com\/imagelib\/pics\/619\/61973629.295.jpg\" "\\"Deputy")
Deputy lands minister, George Mireku Duker and Koku Anyidoho, CEO of AMI<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n