Authorities of Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners have lauded president Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo for launching the Community mining scheme after a ban was placed on small scale mining business in the country barely three years ago.
The ban placed on small scale mining business brought alot of economic hardships to Ghanaians both home and abroad.
The community mining scheme which was launched by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at Bawdie in the Wassa Amenfi East District in Western Region today, 24th of July, 2019 has actually restored the hopes of members who were into small scale mining business before the placement of the ban.
The Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners after the launch of the program by the able President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, however, expressed their gratitudes to the President (Nana Akuffo Addo, Prof Frimpong Boateng, Minister of Environment, Science and Technology and the entire members of the Inter Ministerial Committee on illegal Mining (IMCIM), the Minerals Commission, Forestry Commission ,the Environmental Protection Agency and the Water Resources Commission
for their fulfilled promises they made to the Association before the placement of the ban.
Headed by Mr. Mike Gizo, Director of Research and Development, Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners during the launch made it clear that , members of the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners were made to understand that one community mining site can employ a minimum of 5,000 people and also create an indirect employment of about 2000 people along the supply chain per site.
Multiply this figure by the 85 mining districts in the country,each mining district will have a minimum of 4 sites so total number of employment could exceed 2,300,000.
The official launch of the community mining scheme will bring massive employment to the people of Ghana.
This can also bring the contribution of small scale miners to the total gold production to exceed 70%.
Foreign exchange earnings will rise and rural economies will also be boosted.
Rural- Urban migration will be a thing of the past as most people will be absorbed by the community mining concept.
Trained small scale miners will be part of the groups to help guide all prospective miners in adapting to sustainable mining practices.
MR. Mike Gizo, however appealled to authorities of the nation to make land available to small scale miners and community mining operators to avoid encroachment on large scale concessions.
Again, all community miners should be part of the Ghana National Association of small scale miners for effective monitoring, control and supervision.
He again appealed to community miners to be mindful of their safety by providing Personal protective equipment (PPEs) to all staff.
He said, the ILO principles should be adhered to especially child labour and conditions of service.
He called on subsequent governments to maintain the community mining scheme if not to improve upon the mining concept.
He called on all miners and prospective miners to take advantage of the numerous opportunities that the community mining concept presents and work as such.
Mr. Mike Gizo made all these statements during the inauguration of the community mining scheme.
Source :broadcastergh.com /Ayisah Foster
