The Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners has rejected calls from various religious and professional organizations for a blanket ban on small-scale mining as a solution to the galamsey crisis.
The Ghana Bar Association, the Ghana Medical Association, the Christian Council of Ghana, and the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) have all advocated for a ban on small-scale mining in response to the recent surge in galamsey-related devastation.
However, the Small-Scale Miners' Association argues that such a blanket ban would be ineffective, as illegal miners would continue their activities regardless.
In an interview with Channel One News, Godwin Armah, the General Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners, emphasised that while the association opposes illegal mining, they believe a blanket ban is not the solution.
He highlighted that all Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) and traditional leaders are aware of the individuals responsible for polluting river bodies and mining in forest reserves within their communities.
Armah called for the immediate enforcement of existing laws and the removal of those engaged in illegal mining. "Illegality is an illegality so even if you put a ban on it, there is already a ban on it, per the laws of this country.
So we need to enforce the laws.
You cannot say that after investing and doing the right thing and somebody is doing the wrong thing, so we should stop. "You cannot say there should be a blanket ban.
A blanket ban is not the only solution to this issue.
We have done it in the past, it did not work.
What are the lessons that we learn from this?
And what are we going to do this time that will help us to be able to reduce this menace?
This is the critical question that we need to ask rather than ban it.
Everybody can say if we cannot do it, then let's stop it," he stated. By: Neil Nii Kanarku