Supporting small-scale miners to become medium-scale miners key to tackling galamsey menace – Bawumia

Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party for 2028, has suggested a plan to curb illegal mining in Ghana by encouraging small-scale miners to grow into medium-scale operations. During a meeting with the Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners in Accra, Bawumia stated that small-scale miners are not the issue but could contribute to the solution if given proper support.

He remembered inviting small-scale miners to his office when he launched the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme to ensure it did not disadvantage them. Bawumia highlighted that small-scale miners now contribute over half of Ghana's gold production and are also part of the Gold for Reserves programme, which has helped stabilize the cedi.

To support small-scale miners while maintaining the mining sector's integrity, Bawumia proposed providing formalized operators with access to affordable finance, advanced equipment, geological data, and security of tenure. This would enable them to expand, generate more employment, increase royalty payments, and adopt environmentally responsible practices.

Such support would also diminish the allure of illegal mining, which thrives when young people lack a legal route into the sector. Bawumia announced in his 2028 manifesto that he would focus on practical assistance for engineers, farmers, and miners, emphasizing that political tenureship is brief and governments must act promptly.

He proposed establishing a Minerals Development Bank to provide small-scale miners with access to capital for responsible mining equipment. The bank, in collaboration with state institutions like the Minerals Income Investment Fund, the Bank of Ghana, and the private sector, would finance viable local mineral projects and prevent foreign financing that often leads to gold smuggling.

Bawumia further emphasized decentralizing the Minerals Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency to all mining districts, setting up District Mining Committees with traditional leaders, and enhancing the Geological Survey Department's role in mapping gold deposits. These measures aim to end trial-and-error mining, which contributes to environmental damage, and promote modern equipment and processing facilities for small-scale miners.