A Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, responsible for Mining, George Mireku Duker has called on all licensed small-scale miners in the country to rise up and participate in national conversations about the illegal mining menace.

He told the small-scale miners that their voices are important to help contextualize the illegal mining problem.

Addressing a gathering of small-scale miners at Prestea Huni Valley in the Western Region on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, Mr Duker noted that the miners have maintained a deafening silence on the raging matter of galamsey and that owing to their silence, the discourse is being swayed in a direction that could potentially deprive them of their livelihoods.

The Deputy Minister who has been a strong advocate for responsible small-scale mining, pointed out that the government needs the support of the small-scale miners to help take charge of the conversation and situate it in the right context.