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.

[contextly_sidebar id=”UQLhGLSyFprXJIhqKWmDW7YCGclN9A6v”]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.

“The ban has invariably been extended because we have not lifted it. We met with the Association and clearly our targets have still not been met. The ban is still in force until we have reviewed our performance and given an indication of what to do next.”

The Minister also indicated that his outfit will maintain the moratorium on all activities of small-scale mining until it was convinced that, illegal mining, otherwise known as “galamsey” had been completely eradicated.

Talks over mining ban

The announcement of an extension comes weeks after the Minister had indicated that his outfit is holding talks with the Small Scale Miners Association on the possibility of lifting the ban.

Mr. Amewu stated that lot more needed to be done before the ban can be lifted.

He said though government had rolled out measures to clamp down on activities of illegal miners, results yielded so far in the crusade were still unsatisfactory.

The Ghana National Association of Small-Scale miners, whose members have been largely affected, had warned of dire consequences should the ban be extended again.

The Association urged the Ministry to lift the ban and rather ensure strict enforcement of the country’s mining laws.

‘Small-scale miners stage protest’

In September 2017, some small-scale miners in the Ashanti Regional capital, Kumasi, staged a demonstration against the ban,

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

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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He explained that though government has rolled out measures to clamp down on activities of illegal miners, results yielded so far in the crusade are still unsatisfactory.

[contextly_sidebar id=”C4c3Wx4vI0lCtEE7cD540AZegRgncH0z”]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.

John Peter Amewu indicated that his Ministry will continue to dialogue with the association on the possibility of lifting the ban.

“I had a meeting last week with the small-scale association so we are in close contact and something good will definitely come up… We want to finalize everything and then we can make a pronouncement. There is also a ministerial committee that is working alongside my Ministry to see how we can address this…”

The Ghana National Association of Small-Scale miners, whose members have been largely affected, has warned of dire consequences should the ban be extended again.

The Association urged 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.

We’re targetted in galamsey fight’

Meanwhile, the small-scale miners have held the view that the government’s anti-galamsey fight is targetted at them, although large-scale miners are expected to be subjected to strict government supervision as well.

‘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 protesters, the organizers described the demonstration as successful.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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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

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According to them, it appears they have been targeted by the ban which does not apply to large-scale miners despite the fact that both small and large-scale mining is regulated by the same law.

[contextly_sidebar id=”zdVoFRLL55a9nG78r4cb6cKINV2oYlCp”]Last Friday, the government through the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, John Peter Amewu, announced the extension of the of the temporary ban which seeks to allow water bodies and lands that have been destroyed as a result of mining to be regenerated.

The miners have on various occasions appealed to the government to end the ban which they claim is negatively affecting their livelihood.

Some miners in the Ashanti Region subsequently embarked on a demonstration to press home their demand.

The Director of Operations for the Association, Emmanuel Yenkyi Antwi, told Citi News that they remain against the idea of a ban on their activities.

“We have never been in support of the ban. Especially a ban that is discriminatory against us as licensed small-scale miners. Small-scale mining and large-scale mining [are both regulated by the same law], and so the fact that this ban affects one section for the two groups who are supposed to be regulated under the same law, we deeply feel that it is discriminatory. We were aware there was going to be an extension, but we have never been in support of the extension,” he said.

Meanwhile, the sector minister, John Peter Amewu, has announced that the government has set up a committee to monitor developments in the sector before the implementation of the five-year Multilateral Mining Integrated Project (MMIP).

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By: Felicia Osei/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The Lands and Natural resources, John Peter Amewu, who made the announcement today, Friday, said the ban is expected to be lifted by January 2018.

The extension comes not long after some small scale miners in the Ashanti Region, embarked on a demonstration to demand an end to it, saying it was having an impact on their livelihood.

“There is an extension for three months, and the Association has been informed. The people we are dealing with are aware. The ban has been extended. This was supposed to end somewhere in October,” he added.

The government earlier in 2017 imposed a six-month ban on small-scale mining as part of efforts to end illegal mining and its related activities, which adversely affected the environment, particularly water bodies and forest reserves.

The sector minister, John Peter Amewu, during a tour of some reclamation projects at Kyebi in the Eastern Region, said government has set up a committee to monitor development in the sector before the its five-year Multilateral Mining Integrated Project (MMIP) would be implemented.

“Just yesterday [Thursday], cabinet has given approval for the multi-sectorial mining integrated project. But as you may know, there is an adhoc committee in place that is doing some exercise. Immediately the committee finishes its work we will roll out the MMP project. I’m expecting it to commence maybe in February because we expect the ban to continue for the next three months. And when the ban is finally lifted, then the MMIP will be rolled on which there will be more sustainable approach,” he added.

Government had earlier in August tasked a joint military and police task-force code-named Operation Vanguard, to enforce the ban on illegal mining.

So far, the team has been able to arrest over  nearly 500 people some of who are facing prosecution in different parts of the country.

In some cases, seized mining equipment have been seized and destroyed from various mining sites.

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By: Kojo Agyeman/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The PanAfGeo project is a European Union and Africa initiative aimed at improving and reinforcing geo-scientific skills for African Geological Surveys.

The training brought together 40 Ghanaian geoscientists, and 11 others from Sierra Leon, Gambia, Liberia and Nigeria.

Speaking at the launch of the training, Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Benito Owusu-Bio, tasked participants to contribute significantly towards the good governance of Ghana’s extractions.

“When Africa Geological survey staff is given capacity through the requisite training, they will provide better services since they are equipped with enhanced data and skills. This will intend facilitate resource discovery and development. The importance of this cannot be over emphasized as large masses of the continent are either under explored or not explored at all.”

According to him, Africa is the world top producer of mining of mineral commodities, but most of Africa still lacks systematic geological mapping which could bring to light as a much greater resource base.

On his part, the Ambassador of the European Union, H.E. William Hanna, said the training is to present the methods, tools, procedures and requirements for sustainable Artisanal and Small Scale mining in Ghana.

He explained that extractive resources including oil, gas and minerals, affect the socio-economic conditions of countries that represent half of the world’s population.

“Some 4 billion people live today in countries whose economic trajectories have been shaped to a large extent by their natural resource endowments” he added.

H.E Mr. Hanna said the training is highly relevant and will provide many of the answers that Ghana needs to be able to ensure that the Artisanal Mining sector is properly regulated and serves to create decent jobs and livelihoods for the miners and prosperity for rural Ghana.
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By: Naa Kwaamah Siaw-Marfo/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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According to them, the planned demonstration will coincide with President Akuffo-Addo’s visit to the U.S for the UN General Assembly Meeting.

[contextly_sidebar id=”PsFoiTKUdxJg5kzSGQZh8rJfIUmmJLus”]Exton Cubic Group’s license currently has been revoked by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources with the excuse that they failed to meet the legal requirements.

The company has since been prevented from prospecting bauxite at Nyinahini in the Ashanti Region.

Speaking to Citi News, the Communications Director for Ashanti Youth for Development, Alex Kweku Asafo Adjei, said the demonstration is to also protest the extent to which “our  laws have been skewed to favour multinational companies just to take away our resources.”

“Our brothers in the US are holding a demonstration against the President or the government of the day. We are of the view that these frustrations are being inflicted on Exton Cubic mainly because we have heard that the government wants to leverage that Bauxite deposit to the Chinese government.”

Officials of the former National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration, have accused government of unfair treatment against the mining firm.

The company has served notice it may take a legal action if government doesn’t reconsider it’s decision.

Revoking our license bad for private investors – Exton Cubic

Exton Cubic Group has lamented that the revocation of their exploration permit by government will deter private investors from creating jobs in Ghana.

In a fresh letter addressed to the Minister of Lands and Natural Resource, and signed by Managing Director of Exton Cubic, Augustus Amegashie, the company said “your action in disrespecting the sanctity of signed agreements will deter the potential private investments needed to create more jobs.”

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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The Lands and Natural Resources Minister, John Peter Amewu, who made the announcement said this will help the Ministry to effectively monitor small scale miners’ activities.

[contextly_sidebar id=”pTrZ5vyAV7lskIFAfCOWNgtnh3nfQMkS”]“I can assure you that there is going to be a biometric registration of all small scale miners that would want to go into the field. We are putting in place measures to ensure that …we track at every point in time where you are mining..,” the Minister said.

“We are going to give them [small scale miners] a license and an ID card to make sure that of course with the ID card we can locate them,” Mr. Amewu added.

The Minister’s announcement comes on the back of a demonstration against government’s six month ban on all forms of small scale mining.

Hundreds of small scale miners in the Ashanti region on Tuesday demonstrated against the ban, arguing that the suspension had elapsed.

Addressing the concerns of the miners in an interview with Citi News’ Kojo Agyeman, Mr. Amewu however asked small scale miners to exercise patience, explaining that the ban will come to an end in six months.

“This ban is a six month ban and if you do recollect, it started somewhere in May and we expect it to end somewhere in October and so if they really have to adhere strictly to the directive, we should be expecting the ban coming to an end in October. I am expecting my good friends and small scale miners to exercise patience.

“I have had several discussions and engagements with the executives, and I will let them understand that small scale mining is the preserve of Ghanaians. They[Small scale miners] will definitely come back and mine and so they should exercise patience. We are putting in measures and these measures are going to make them come back…”

Government in April imposed a six-month ban on all forms of small scale mining as part of measures to deal with illegal mining, popularly referred to as Galamsey.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The spokesperson, Francis Opoku, noted that the government kept aligning small scale miners with illegalities hence their protest in Kumasi on Tuesday.

[contextly_sidebar id=”4RPZYTSmi7MwWkQIAt3OQSh0GMHorirL”]The protest was against the government’s temporary ban on all forms of small-scale mining in the country, which they said was to end in August.

Speaking on Eyewitness News, Mr. Opoku said the confusion over the ban was as a result of poor planning from the government.

“… the handling of the whole hullabaloo about illegal mining has not been organised properly. Even for the date of the ban, there is a question. It was a statement from the minister. Nothing was documented. While we believe that it was supposed to end in August, the government is saying that it is supposed to end in September.

Government’s clamp down on illegal small scale miners and moves to conserve the environment, saw it place a six-month ban on all forms of small-scale mining.

But Mr. Opoku stressed that, small-scale miners did not have “anything to do with illegalities” as they were “licensed people who have gone through the process to have their licences.”

He noted further that Small-scale Miners’ association was so well organised that the association has been able to “mobilize members to the extent that when we say sleep, they sleep. When we say come out, they come out.”

“So the government should rather take advantage of the fact that we are well organised to let us go back to work,” Mr. Opoku stated.

As an example, in response to illegal miners polluting rivers running into Cote d’Ivoire, he said the association set up task-forces to fight the illegal miners “to the admiration of even the government. They came out to commend us.”

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

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The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources imposed the six-month ban as part of efforts to rid the mining sector of illegal miners.

Although the six months have elapsed, the Minister is yet to lift the ban.

Speaking to Citi News, the Secretary of the Association of Small Scale Miners in the Ashanti Region, Kwabena Boakye, said the demonstration is the last resort to get the ban reversed.

The ban became necessary as part of a clamp down on illegal mining activities, also known as galamsey.

“It is not just those in the Ashanti Region complaining. The others in various regions are complaining. We are starting with our own demonstration …It is not that we are impatient, but the government gave us a six-month ban, and that has elapsed so we need to know why they are not allowing us to go back to work and the plans they have for us as we speak now,” he said.

Ban on small scale mining may be extended

Mr. Amewu had earlier indicated that, the ban on small scale mining may extend beyond the stipulated six months.

He said the ban will not be lifted unless the objectives for the imposition are met within the six months.

The government imposed the six-month ban on small-scale mining as part of efforts to end illegal mining and its degrading effects on the environment.

The affected miners had expressed reservations about the ban, which is in its second month.

The government had warned the small scale miners that any attempt to breach the six-month freeze on all forms of small-scale mining will be considered a violation of the laws, and will be met with action from security forces, who will be deployed to enforce the ban.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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