Small scale miners blame govt for galamsey surge over three-year permit freeze
The Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners (GNASSM) has fiercely pushed back against the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, accusing the state of deliberately pushing miners into "galamsey" through crippling administrative bottlenecks.
The Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners (GNASSM) has strongly opposed the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, alleging that the government is intentionally driving miners towards illegal galamsey through bureaucratic hurdles. Following Deputy Lands Minister's remarks on unreclaimed lands, GNASSM's Ashanti Chapter Secretary, Michael Adu-Gyamfi, highlighted a three-year hold on mining permits.
He cautioned that labeling miners as criminals while denying them legitimate licenses could lead to environmental catastrophe. Adu-Gyamfi questioned the government's approach, asking if they expect miners to reclaim land only to be arrested. He urged authorities to stop treating miners as outlaws. GNASSM warned that the only way to protect Ghana's water bodies and forest reserves is to decentralize licensing to local assemblies and formalize operators.
The association also announced that it would hold electoral polls for new four-year leadership positions within seven years.
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