Small-Scale Miners Join Calls to Ban Mining in Forest Reserves        

The Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners (GNASSM) has lent its support to stakeholders demanding drastic measures against illegal mining activities which are wreaking havoc on the environment.

In a press statement, the Association said it shares in the concerns raised by the various Civil Society Organisations (CSO), Labour Unions, Religious Bodies and all Ghanaians on the pollution and destruction of forest reserves and water bodies.

They have thus demanded the revocation of the Legislative Instrument (LI) that permits mining in forest reserves and the deployment of security personnel along the various river bodies.

“We are calling the government as a matter of urgency to deploy personnel to the water bodies to curb the ongoing pollution and GNASSM will support in whatever form or shape.

“The government should reconsider permitting entities to work in the forest reserves. If the companies are not working in accordance with the condition of their permit requirement then it should be revoked.”

It further served notice about its willingness to “deploy its task force to the water bodies to arrest illegal miners polluting our water bodies, mining close to highways and all the fabricators of the dredgers”.

Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini