Licensed small-scale miners are urging government to adopt a fair and coordinated approach in its fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.

While they support the crackdown, they say recent actions by security agencies are unfairly affecting law-abiding miners, disrupting operations and seizing equipment without proper checks.

“As much as we appreciate the government's efforts to sanitise the sector, complaints of the worrying situation are a possible threat to our members doing the right thing.

"We therefore want to press home this information to the attention of the government to influence the design of a well-structured and coordinated approach to ameliorate the situation,” the Ashanti Regional Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners, Michael Adu-Gyamfi, said.

Just a day earlier, the Concerned Small Scale Miners Association also raised alarm, claiming the task force is wrongfully targeting licensed operators and failing to differentiate between legal and illegal mining activities.

According to the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners, the current operation lacks coordination and structure.

The Association fears this could undermine the Ghana Gold Board’s work in formalising and regulating the small-scale mining sector.

Just as cocoa farmers are supported by COCOBOD, the miners say they also need protection to operate responsibly.

“COCOBOD itself made sure that anything concerning cocoa farming and cocoa trading is well done so that the interest is accrued.”

Mr Adu-Gyamfi said that if the government wants the Ghana Gold Board to function effectively, it must support and collaborate with miners to enhance their capacity and long-term sustainability.

The Association is calling on the government to involve stakeholders in designing a clear and strategic framework that distinguishes licensed miners from illegal operators.

They believe that with proper coordination, the country can protect its environment, clamp down on galamsey, and still allow genuine small-scale miners to contribute to national development.

“We are reminding the government of GNASSM's resolve to partner with our task force in the carrying out of future operations so that all recalcitrant galamseyers working within the red zones are flushed out.”

The miners say they remain committed to supporting government efforts—but only if they are treated with fairness and respect.