Following a tour of some small-scale mining companies in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality in the Western Region, Mr Samuel Koku Sitsofe Anyidoho, the Chief Executive Officer of the Atta-Mills Institute, has urged Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and all persons calling for a total ban on small-scale mining to reconsider their campaign and rather focus on complementing the government’s efforts in fighting illegal mining (galamsey).

On Saturday, October 19, 2024, Mr Anyidoho joined a delegation led by the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, responsible for Mines, George Mireku Duker, MP to visit some licensed small-scale mining companies in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality of the Western Region.

The team visited the Tarkwa Community Mining Scheme, Mohammed Brothers Ltd, Johnson Mining Services Ltd, and Dakete Mining Company Ltd, all in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality.

During the tour, the companies took the delegation through a safety induction, mining procedures through the shaft-rail-locomotive ore/logistics hauling system, mineral processing, and tailings management.

Addressing the media at the end of the tour, Mr. Koku Anyidoho noted that contrary to the public narrative, most small-scale mining companies are engaged in responsible and sustainable mining.

Mr Anyidoho believes that the organizations and persons clamouring for a total ban on small-scale mining do not fully appreciate the issues at hand, as his experience has made him realize that the galamsey menace is not being perpetrated by all small-scale mining companies.

He urged members of the ‘ban small-scale mining’ brigade not to generalize the issues, as the situation on the ground does not support their claims, and promised to be an advocate for responsible small-scale miners.

“Galamsey has become a very big issue, so it’s a crisis. Unfortunately, the discourse is that all small-scale licenses must be taken away. We have quacks and bad people in every profession, but it will be unfair to join the call without coming here firsthand”, he said.

“The protection of the river bodies is critical, but all we see are the destroyed water bodies and not the companies who are engaged in responsible small-scale mining. The discourse is that everybody with a small-scale mining license must have it revoked, but I believe we should separate the chaff from what is good so that we can have people advocating for you,” he added.

George Mireku Duker, in a brief address to the press, explained that his consistent defence and advocacy for responsible small-scale mining is in tandem with his role as a Member of Parliament who has sworn fealty to the law.

According to him, as long as the country’s laws make provision for Ghanaians to engage in small-scale mining, he will advance their cause and fight for them.

Beyond the law, Mr Duker’s commitment to the small-scale mining industry is due to his absolute belief that it is the only means through which Ghanaians can grow to become owners of large-scale mining companies.

The Deputy Minister also condemned galamsey, reiterating the point that the government will continue to fight against the menace.

“We can only use ownership from small-scale mining to middle-tier and then to the conglomerate. As Ghanaians, while we have enacted laws to regulate small-scale mining, I must be the one championing it. Once we’ve agreed as MPs to enact laws for small-scale mining, I will continue to protect that law. It is the reason I keep on championing small-scale mining. I’m happy to see Ghanaians like you managing a facility like this because it means the benefits will remain in the country. Employees are all Ghanaians.”