{"id":411898,"date":"2018-03-23T06:00:32","date_gmt":"2018-03-23T06:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/citifmonline.com\/?p=411898"},"modified":"2018-03-22T16:10:58","modified_gmt":"2018-03-22T16:10:58","slug":"asante-youth-group-accuses-govt-bias-mining-ban","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2018\/03\/asante-youth-group-accuses-govt-bias-mining-ban\/","title":{"rendered":"Asante youth group accuses gov’t of bias in mining ban"},"content":{"rendered":"
The Asante Youth Association has accused government of showing bias in the enforcement of the ban on Small Scale Mining activities in the country.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The group in a statement said \u201cThat is cold pragmatism, hugely unfair and dishonest as we know governments imbibe the fundamental principles of fair treatment and honest dealings”.<\/p>\n
[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?\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n