…Galamsey expected to dominate discussions
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| The search for gold in Ghana sometimes means the termination of lives |
The forum, being organised at the instance of Third World Network-Africa (TWN-Africa) in collaboration with its associates in the National Coalition on Mining (NCOM), will feature participants from government agencies, academic institutions, civil society organizations, traditional authorities, small-scale miners, media and citizenry with interest in the small-scale mining sector.
A statement issued Thursday by the organisers to announce the forum said: “The main purpose of the forum is to create an opportunity for discussing issues on small-scale mining within the context of on-going mining reforms at the national, regional and continental levels.”
Despite the organisers choosing “Optimizing The Developmental Benefits Of Small-Scale Mining Sector” as topic, it is anticipated that illegal small scale mining, popularly called galamsey, will dominate discussions owing to Kumasi playing host and the exigencies of the times.
Kumasi
Kumasi is one of Ghana’s regional capitals surrounded by
areas notorious for both legal small scale and galamsey activities besides
large scale operations. The Obuasi Municipality, Amansie Central and West
districts are a few of the districts known for small scale mining.
Manso Nkwanta, which is the capital of the Amansie West
District, is famous for galamsey activities. Similarly, the ghanadistricts portal reports that in
the Amansie Central District, “there are other unregistered small scale miners
(“Galamsey”) scattered over the communities such as Asikasu, Homase, Begroase,
Odumase, Tweapease, Suhyensu, Fahiakobo, Mile 14 and Anyankyerem.”
The Times
The Kumasi forum is coming off at a time when the small
scale mining sector in Ghana is embroiled in controversy occasioned by galamsey
which is increasingly becoming the mainstay for Chinese immigrants.
In recent times, gun violence has characterised galamsey
activities as both communities and security agencies have squared off with weapon-wielding
illegal miners many of whom are foreigners using sophisticated machinery and
methods.
Worsening trends of pollution of water bodies, destruction
of forested areas and damaging of livelihood sources of communities are also
being increasingly recorded, according to civil society organisations (CSOs).
In its pre-forum statement, TWN-Africa agreed that recent
cries about environmental degradation caused by illegal small-scale miners have
called into question the whole small-scale mining industry and its impact on
the economy of Ghana.
“The great contribution of small-scale miners to the local
mining industry aside, the devastating effects of illegal mining operations
leading to pollution of water bodies among others has drawn anger from most
Ghanaians against small-scale mining,” TWN-Africa stated.
On May 14, 2013, President John Dramani Mahama outdoored an
Inter-Ministerial Taskforce on Illegal Mining, tasking them “to ensure that our laws in the Small Scale mining sub sector
are fully enforced.”
He said “…I am
sending a clear signal to the offending individuals and groupings that
government will not allow their activities to cause conflict, dislocation,
environmental degradation, and unemployment, when in fact; the sector should
benefit our communities and help develop Ghana.”
On the other hand, Ghana
has been pushing fiscal and legal regime reforms over the past couple of years
as civil society and environmental organisations drum home the pertinence of
legal and fiscal regime reform for the large scale mining sector. These are
happening also within the context of the African Union’s adoption of the Africa
Mining Vision (AMV) which is targeted at catalysing continent-wide mining
regime reforms. Also in motion is the ECOWAS Directive on the
Harmonization of Guiding Principles and Policies in the Mining Sector which member-countries, including Ghana, are
expected to operationalise by the beginning of July 2014 to drive the harnessing
and harmonising of mineral resources for growth and development at the
sub-continent level.
Optimizing Benefits
of Small-Scale Mining
“Given the volatile situation, the forum hopes to help bring
together stakeholders in the industry to share their understanding of the
industry and the situation for a hands-on search for solutions to the problem,”
TWN-Africa said of the Kumasi forum.
It also explained that discussions “shall include the
experience of small-scale miners, the regulatory role by both the Minerals
Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency, as well as concerns by
advocacy groups and individuals.”
Speaking ahead of the forum, Richard Ellimah, a member of
NCOM based in Obuasi, said in an interview that there was the need to correct the
misconception that all small scale mining activities are galamsey through
deliberate effort from duty-bearers.
Specifically, he called on government to recognise small
scale mining as a major source of employment and a potential catalyst for
economic development. Hence, proper regulation of the small scale mining sector
coupled with capital and capacity building support will improve the fortunes of
the sector and drive development, Mr Ellimah argued.
Last
April, NCOM said in a statement that official statistics for gold production did
not distinguish between legal Artisanal Small Scale Mining (ASM) and galamsey
gold, the proportion of which has been rising year by year, reaching a quarter of gold production in 2010 and
rising to an estimated one third in 2012. “These figures underline the economic
and social significance of galamsey and the need for policy responses which
recognise this fact.”Also published on Pg. 3 of Monday June 10 edition of Public Agenda.
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