According to AYA, it is reliably informed that while Government has halted the activities in the whole of Ashanti, some mining companies in other regions were briskly mining.

The group in a statement said “That is cold pragmatism, hugely unfair and dishonest as we know governments imbibe the fundamental principles of fair treatment and honest dealings”.

[contextly_sidebar id=”Dw9UNez33P7HZ08rWad6cKQVXsB32gDy”]Small-scale mining operations are going on in the Western, Eastern, Central, Brong-Ahafo, Upper-East, Upper-West Regions. Companies such as C&J Alaska, Dollar Power, Nawara Moss, Kibi Goldfields, Extra Gold et al are mining with reckless abandon in a seeming disregard to the nationwide ban. So we ask, is the ban placed on small-scale mining or galamsey? If the latter is the answer, why are companies with licences in the other regions with mineral deposits except Asante (Ashanti) mining in the light of the ban?”

The group indicated that, miners in the Ashanti Region also have requisite documentation and licenses, and should be allowed to carry out their activities as their counterparts in other parts of the country.

The group further indicated that the ban has adversely affected the buoyancy and the drive of their local economy, since Artisans in their garages, market women and farmers are bearing the brunt of the ban.

The group has given government a two-week ultimatum to come out with a road-map on lifting the ban, and offer a comprehensive solution to the menace of illegal mining.

Small scale mining ban extended again

The Lands and Natural Resources Ministry on March 9, 2018, extended the ban placed on all forms of small-scale mining for the third time.

Following the widespread devastation of water resources and forest reserves as a result of the activities of illegal mining, government, in January 2017 placed a ban on small scale mining for a period of six months.

The ban was however extended in October 2017, for another three months, which ended in January 2018.

But speaking at an awards ceremony by the Bureau of Research, Governance, Commerce and Administration, the Lands and Natual Resources Minister, John Peter Amewu, explained that his outfit had to extend the ban again after small scale miners failed to meet the target set for them to have it reviewed.

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By: Hafiz Tijani/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Asante youth group accuses gov’t of bias in mining ban appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The five, including four Chinese and one Ghanaian, were arrested by government’s anti-galamsey task-force, Operation Vanguard, after a swoop on their site in Aboso.

[contextly_sidebar id=”XNBsoWJ4uqGgvT2CYrZoxu83EATPQrXi”]The team found that the miners were using large quantities of cyanide and other toxic substances in their operations.

National Commander of Operation Vanguard, Colonel Michael Amoah Ayisi in a Citi News interview, said those arrested include the owner of the illegal mining company.

“We were able to arrest 4 people and the owner of the facility. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) were brought in to help us do the assessment and also confirm certain things and make them face prosecution.”

“Currently, the suspects are at the Tarkwa Divisional Police Command and we are preparing them for prosecution at the law court.”

Meanwhile, EPA says it will begin cleaning up the site today, to avoid further contamination of the area.

The Senior Programs Officer at the Tarkwa office of the EPA, Moses Kpebu said “We’ll cordon off the place and we are discussing with stakeholders to help us clean up the place. We are dealing with high pollutants so we are mindful about how we deal with the situation,” he said.

The anti-galamsey task-force was deployed to three regions; Ashanti, Western and Eastern about five months ago, to help fight and sustain the campaign against illegal mining.

Their operations have resulted in the arrest of at least 600 illegal miners including foreign nationals, particularly Chinese.

The deployment of the joint police and military task-force came as a major boost to government’s fight against illegal mining in the country, following news of its devastating effects on the country’s land and water resources.

The government placed a six-month ban on all forms of mining until further notice, but has extended it again after the January 2018 deadline because the needed result has not been achieved.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post 5 ‘galamseyers’ mining with cyanide to face court today appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to him, the comment puts Ghana in bad light in terms of respect for human rights.

[contextly_sidebar id=”VNTPuvrI9KEoQjlLn4SGfHxis396h6YS”]“I don’t think we should be shooting people. No nation on earth, as a democracy advocates for the murder of its citizens irrespective of what crime they do. Shoot-on-site policy is something that we do in emergencies. We have not reached there yet. I think that statement has done a massive damage to Ghana internationally that we have a shoot-to-kill policy for people who we profile and we may be wrong in profiling those people. It is most unfortunate,” he said.

Joseph Osei Owusu, who is also the Member of Parliament for Bekwai Constituency, suggested the joint military and police anti-galamsey task force fighting illegal mining in various parts of the country adopts a shoot-to-kill approach in dealing with illegal miners destroying the country’s water resources.

While making a contribution on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, Osei-Owusu said he would have issued a directive to that effect.

But some have condemned him for the comment and described it as reprehensive.

Meanwhile, the Majority leader, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, has also backed the suggestion saying that the country has treated illegal miners with kid gloves for far too long.

Given the precarious state of Ghana’s natural resources like vegetation and water bodies, Mr. Mensah-Bonsu said that taking lives to protect the environment is justified by the constitution.

Backing his claim with Article 13 of the Constitution which says “no person shall be deprived of his life intentionally except in the exercise of the execution of a sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence under the laws of Ghana of which he has been convicted,” the caucus leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs said, “I do not think that the constitution, in so far as a matter is criminal, frowns upon the use of force to the extent that it may even deprive some other people of their lives. The constitution does not talk about that at all… Mr. Speaker, if we agree that what was going on was criminal, the constitution doesn’t forbid any person trying to prevent the commission of that crime from pursuing that person and asserting force which may even result in death.”

NPP MP kicks against shoot-to-kill proposal in galamsey fight

Meanwhile, New Patriotic Party [NPP] MP for Manso Adubia in the Ashanti Region, Yaw Frimpong, has said the suggestion for a shoot-to-kill approach in dealing with illegal miners in the country is inappropriate.

The MP, whose constituency is one of the worst affected by the activities of illegal miners believes a more pragmatic approach should be adopted.

He is of the view that a shoot-to-kill approach will not end the menace.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post ‘Shoot-to-kill galamseyers’ suggestion unfortunate – Aning appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The Coalition said current sanctions were not deterrent enough, stating that with stricter sanctions, the fight against illegal mining can be won.

The Coalition made this known during a two-day working visit to the Upper East Region.

Kofi Larweh, a member of the steering committee of the Coalition, said they were worried about the sentences meted out to galamseyers, saying, it does not significantly contribute to the fight against galamsey.

“There are many levels of dealing with the fight against galamsey ranging from institutional, community, traditional and government. When it comes to government, one of the areas which is of much concern to us now has to do with the kind of sentencing or punishment meted out by the courts to galamseyers.”

“For each punishment, you have various amounts that people pay, but when you look at what they have been slapped with, it’s the barest minimum, and so we are appealing to the Chief Justice, Gloria Akuffo that judges should be sensitized to increase or enforce maximum punishment when sentencing galamseyers,” he said.

Mr. Larweh noted that, empowering traditional rulers with oversight responsibility on illegal mining could also contribute significantly to fighting the menace.

According to the Minerals Commission in the Upper East Region, only twenty-one (21) out of about 220 applications for small-scale mining have been licensed for operations.

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By: Frederick Awuni/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Punishment for galamseyers must be deterrent enough – Media Coalition appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

A third person, 35-year-old tiler, Kwasi Poku, has been sentenced to serve two years in prison and is due to reappear in court.

The three were all convicted  after they pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit crime, mining without authority, mining without license and possession of firearms without lawful authority.

They were arrested on Monday by personnel from the Forestry Commission following a tip off.

The Presiding Judge, Her Lordship, Ms Mercy Addai-Kotei sentenced the accused persons to pay a penalty unit of GH¢2,500 and in addition, serve two years in prison after they pleaded guilty to the charge of conspiracy to commit crime.

On the charge of mining without a license, Ms Addai-Kotei sentenced Akwasi Agyemang and Yaw Osei to pay a fine of GH¢2,500 and in addition, serve two years in prison with hard labour.

For possessing of firearms without lawful authority, the judge sentenced Yaw Osei,who claimed ownership of the locally manufactured pistol retrieved when the three were arrested, to pay a fine of GH¢1,000 or in default serve 2 years in prison with hard labour.

Kwasi Poku, who pleaded not guilty to the charge of mining without a license has been remanded into prison custody to reappear on March 1.

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By: Neil Nii Amartey Karnaku/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post E/R: Three jailed for illegal mining at Segyimase Kyebi appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

He has therefore called for support from partners and stakeholders to come to the aid of the district as the operations of the miners was wreaking havoc on productive farmlands and destroying their water bodies’

He commended President Nana Akufo-Addo’s vision and determination to bring to an end these societal enemies with the introduction of the Operation Vanguard, establishment of a permanent secretariat for the inter-ministerial committee, and recently the formation and inauguration of District committees against Illegal Mining (DCIM) in areas where the practice is common to bring the menace under control.

In a Citi News interview, Kofi Agyemang expressed his excitement and confidence that a permanent solution to the illegal mining menace was being funded by government to relieve Ghanaians from its devastating effects.

He said the activity was getting out of control in the district because the illegal miners are well armed, thereby making it difficult for the security forces in both the region and the district to flush them out.

“Yes, it’s true, I have been shit bombed because of my resolve to fight the menace when I was appointed by the President as the DCE. In the case of Asotiano, I was told by an informant that one of the boys said I needed to be shot and I said that cannot deter or put us off. I keep on telling them it’s the resolution of the President to bring an end to illegal mining that has virtually destroyed all our water bodies and degraded our lands, my brother we cannot allow it to continue”, he emphasized.

On job opportunities created by his outfit to engage the illegal miners and the youth, the DCE said the Assembly has so far built a database of about 3000 unemployed youth, and created a job center coordinating and working to ensure that they give them jobs.

He said they have established a youth development fund with contributions from residents, and the sole aim is to get jobs for the youth as an alternative to galamsey.

“The fact that the jobs are not yet ready, it does not mean we should destroy our water bodies. Our people are aware that we are putting in so much effort and in fact, we cannot rest until the youth get jobs”, he assured.

The DCE, therefore called for support from the traditional rulers and other stakeholders in the area, to make the government’s development agenda a reality in the area.

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By: Mashoud Kombat/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Dormaa East DCE ‘shit bombed’ by illegal miners appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

He said the government is ready to allow them to go back to work as soon as it sanitizes the sector and rid it of illegal mining.

[contextly_sidebar id=”dRLrqWr3wbBBYhMhUukPOn6Uz50cA9Se”]Mr. Amewu was reacting to concerns by the small-scale miners that the current ban on their operations was greatly affecting their livelihoods and will have a negative effect on the sector.

There is currently a ban on small-scale mining in the country following the widespread devastation of the water resources and forest reserves due to the activities of illegal miners.

A six-month ban, which was imposed by the Ministry earlier in 2017, elapsed in October 2017, but was extended to January 2018.

President Akufo Addo indicated at a media encounter on Wednesday that a decision on the way forward would be taken after a meeting with a team of experts next week.

He however added that, a lot more needs to be done in the crusade against illegal mining. But the miners believe the President’s stance is an indication that the ban might be extended for the second time.

The General Secretary of the Small Scale Miners Association, Godwin Armah, in a Citi News interview said the ban must be lifted to avert the likely challenges the sector will face.

But according to Mr. Peter Amewu, although the government appreciates their concern and efforts to help it address the problem of illegal mining, it cannot rush the process.

“We appreciate their concern but they should exercise some patience and the right thing will be done. Government is not against small-scale mining, Opportunity exists for them, but we are concerned about the methodologies and their approach,” Mr. Amewu said in a Citi News interview.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Amewu urges calm among small-scale miners over ban appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

It is therefore urging the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to lift the ban on small-scale mining and rather ensure strict enforcement of the country’s mining laws.

There is currently a ban on small-scale mining in the country following the widespread devastation of the water resources and forest reserves due to the activities of illegal miners.

A six-month ban, which was imposed by the ministry earlier in 2017, elapsed in October 2017, but was extended to January 2018.

President Akufo Addo indicated at a media encounter on Wednesday that a decision on the way forward would be taken after a meeting with a team of experts next week.

He, however, added that, a lot more needs to be done in the crusade against illegal mining. But the miners believe the President’s stance is an indication that the ban might be extended for the second time.

The General Secretary of the Small Scale Miners Association, Godwin Armah in a Citi News interview said the ban must be lifted to avert the likely challenges the sector will face.

‘We’re targetted in galamsey fight’

The small-scale miners have held the view that the government’s anti-galamsey fight it targetted at them, although large-scale miners must also be subjected to strict government supervision.

‘Small-scale miners stage protest’

In September 2017, some small-scale miners in the Ashanti Regional capital, Kumasi, staged a demonstration over the government’s decision to extend the mining ban.

Despite some police arrests and firing of tear gas at the protestors, the organizers described the demonstration us successful.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Small-scale miners warn against further extension of mining ban appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Speaking during an interaction with the media on Wednesday, he recalled that the Senior Minister, on an official visit to the Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, received some praise from people who said: “last year we [UAE] recorded $7 billion worth of Gold imports from Ghana.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”qZbH4UsB0GLmOfF2FfYJmDa68mjjCoTH”]But the President stated that “official records are talking about $2 billion. These are the facts.”

Responding to a question on the fight against illegal mining and resulting ban on small-scale mining, President Akufo-Addo said outstanding issues related to illegal mining, including this instance of suspected smuggling still needed to be addressed.

“I believe that the fight against galamsey is by no means won. We still have a long way to go… I am saying this because, at the same time, some of the outcomes of the galamsey menace in our country are not sufficiently addressed or articulated.”

“…So it is telling you that apart from the harm that this activity is doing to our country, much of the value that our nation should derive from these activities are also being criminally disposed off,” he added.

On the possible lifting of the ban on small-scale mining, which was extended after first being imposed in April 2017 for three months, President Akufo-Addo said he was yet to meet with advisers, and “decide when, and if the time is ready for the lifting of the ban. So a decision will not be ready until after that meeting of Cabinet next week.”

Revenue leaks in gold export

In September 2017, it emerged that the Precious Minerals Marketing Company (PMMC), at the time, could not trace most of the companies involved in the export of $2.3 billion worth of gold in 2016, that did not result in the repatriation of foreign currency.

Indications were that the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service had begun a probe into the matter which is said to involve about 145 companies.

The PMMC is mandated to oversee the export of gold from the small-scale mining sector, and the law requires at least 80 percent of foreign currency earned from exports to be repatriated into the country

The PMMC’s operations cut across buying, selling, grading, valuing, and processing of precious minerals to include appointing licensed buyers for the purchase of minerals mined by small-scale miners.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post $5bn ‘missing’ from gold exports to UAE – Nana Addo appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The move will ensure that small-scale mining is done in a responsible, environmentally-friendly and sustainable manner.

[contextly_sidebar id=”zijuQB9ufMiMxb1nWuKLmZAixlgIuvlX”]This was disclosed by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at the commissioning of the Secretariat for the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) at Cantonments in Acccra.

The Secretariat, situated at the Office of the President Annex, is also expected to enable the Committee to achieve its long-term objective of combating illegal small-scale mining, protecting the environment, and ensuring that mining in the country conforms to international standards, rules and regulations.

The Secretariat would be the nerve centre of anti-galamsey operations, and would serve as a means of executing the President’s agenda to end the degradation of the environment.

‘Operation Vanguard’, which is a flagship exercise by the IMCIM, to curb the degrading activities of galamsey operations, as well as all other interventions, also aims at regulating the artisanal gold mining sector and would be coordinated from that office.

President Akufo-Addo said he was “resolute and immutable” in his commitment to banish the spectre of galamsey “for our own common survival, and the survival of those who are to come.”

He was emphatic that “we would be jeopardizing both our present and our future”, if illegal small scale-mining went unchecked.

The President said government was entering a new era in its efforts to formalize the small scale mining industry, so as to achieve sustainable mining with sound environmental practices.

“In the weeks and months ahead, I expect to see optimal co-ordination amongst participating Ministries and the District Mining Committees, as well as close interaction with Operation Vanguard, small scale miners and the general public. I expect the Committee to receive regular reports from mining centres, so that illegal activities can be dealt with immediately,” he said.

President Akufo-Addo stressed that with the office for the Inter-Ministerial Committee in place, “there is going to be constant, close and effective monitoring and reporting of anti-galamsey activities, so that the right thing is done all the time.”

“This new phase will demonstrate our resilience and commitment to ensuring that our water bodies, land and forests, with their biodiversity, are not destroyed, ” he said.

The President urged the Small Scale Miners Association, from the national to the community level, to “help in self-regulation of activities of their members, and also ensure that no one engages in illegal activities, especially mining in our water bodies.”

He also commended the media for the patriotism it had exhibited in the fight against the galamsey menace, and urged it to intensify the campaign against illegal small-scale mining because “we must preserve our environment for posterity”.

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Source: GNA

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