The small-scale miners association of ghana has announced plans to suspend activities for two months in protest against what it described as extortion: The association claims that rogue elements among police officers, soldiers, immigration officers, and politicians are using their positions to intimidate miners and extort money from them.
According to Ghana Web, Michael Adu Gyamfi, an executive member of the association, revealed during an interview on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM that leadership is currently meeting to decide on their next course of action. Gyamfi emphasized that the continuous harassment is severely threatening their livelihoods, as task force members routinely demand money from fully licensed, legal miners. He stated that the association is prepared to halt operations regardless of the consequences.
"As I speak with you, we are planning to suspend work. It is about time we send a clear message that small-scale mining is not a crime. We have been treated unfairly. I am encouraging all small-scale miners to join this agenda and let us suspend work for two months and see the repercussions. It seems the benefits of small-scale mining are being taken for granted," said Adu Gyamfi.
He further criticized the recent enforcement strategies in the sector during his conversation with host Kwabena Agyapong, warning that the business will remain unsustainable until systemic changes are made. Adu Gyamfi highlighted the reckless nature of the current system, underscoring that the means of regulation has turned into an avenue for extortion by those tasked with regulating the sector.
"It has become a means through which those tasked to deal with galamsey and regulate the sector are making money out of licensed small-scale miners. They are extorting monies from us. Every single day, we have the police, immigration, soldiers, and other security officers as well as politicians extorting from us. When you go to Kumasi, we have three different teams of security officers storming our sites and demanding money from our members. It is unfortunate and it must stop," he added.
Adu Gyamfi reiterated that brute force will not resolve the illegal mining menace, noting that past military-style crackdowns have proven to be a total failure in the fight against galamsey.