Accra:An aspiring Ashanti Regional organiser of the Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners (GNASSM), Alexander Kwaku Oppong, has called on the government to compel illegal miners to reclaim degraded lands before leaving mining sites. He warned that abandoned pits pose serious dangers to communities.
According to Ghana Web, Mr. Oppong argued that the fight against illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, should extend beyond burning or confiscating mining equipment. He emphasized the need for measures that restore damaged land and prevent further harm to residents. He pointed out the dangers of abandoned mining sites, which can become hazardous death traps.
Mr. Oppong highlighted that removing illegal miners without addressing environmental damage leaves communities exposed to hazards long after mining activities have ceased. He questioned the current approach, where some degraded lands remain unattended while the government allocates significant resources to reclaim other damaged sites.
He advocated for making illegal miners responsible for restoring the land they have damaged to help address the environmental consequences of galamsey and ensure that affected communities are not left to bear the risks. If elected as Ashanti Regional organiser of GNASSM, Mr. Oppong pledged to promote responsible mining practices and encourage land reclamation among association members.
Mr. Oppong also urged small-scale miners who are not yet members of GNASSM to join the association. He believes that wider membership could support efforts to regulate mining activities and encourage greater responsibility within the sector. His proposal comes amid ongoing concerns about the environmental and public safety impacts of illegal mining in Ghana, such as degraded landscapes, polluted water bodies, and abandoned excavations that can endanger people and livestock.
Requiring operators to reclaim mined-out or damaged areas could make land restoration a more central part of efforts to combat illegal mining. However, effective implementation would necessitate clear reclamation obligations, along with monitoring and enforcement, to ensure that affected sites are properly restored.