“We’re losing everything”- Ashanti Miners desperate for government’s help with concessions:
Facing dwindling access to mining concessions, a group of small-scale miners in Ghana’s Ashanti Region is making a desperate plea to President John Dramani Mahama and Lands Minister Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah for immediate assistance.
“We’re losing everything!” exclaimed Felix Yaw Andam, spokesperson for the group, highlighting the crisis impacting countless families. The miners say the scarcity of available land, locked up by multinational corporations and large domestic firms, is squeezing them out of business.
The situation is not just about profits; it’s about survival. Andam warns that the crisis threatens the livelihoods of over three million young Ghanaians who depend on the small-scale mining sector for direct and indirect employment. Adding to the stress, miners report facing ongoing harassment and intimidation from security forces at their work sites.
Despite their struggles, the miners emphasize their support for the government’s fight against illegal “galamsey” mining and pledge to adhere to responsible mining practices.
They also point out their crucial role in the local economy, generating significant tax revenue that supports vital development projects and local government services. Andam passionately urged the government to prioritize their plight, ensuring access to concessions so they can continue operating sustainably and contributing to the nation’s prosperity.
Adu Gyamfi, Ashanti district secretary of the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners, amplified the miners’ appeal. “I support the call on the government to do all it can to make available small-scale mining concession blocks for responsible mining, to create more employment opportunities for the youth within the mining enclaves,” he affirmed.
