President of the National Association of Concerned Small-Scale Miners of Ghana, Michael Kwadwo Peprah, has assured miners throughout the nation of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) dedication in the direction of encouraging sustainable small-scale mining.
The NDC’s marketing campaign in Mankranso and Atwima Nwabiagya districts of the Ashanti Region sought to interact small-scale miners on the celebration’s manifesto, notably in addressing the challenges surrounding licensing and documentation within the sector.
Michael Kwadwo Peprah whiles addressing the miners highlighted the continuing difficulties confronted by small-scale miners in acquiring the mandatory permits and licenses to function legally.
He identified that, many miners, regardless of following the proper procedures, nonetheless wrestle with buying the required documentation, resulting in frustration throughout the business.
“The main issue is licensing and documentation. We know that a lot of miners are doing the right thing but don’t have the documents to prove it. Currently, obtaining a license often means traveling all the way to Accra, which is a significant burden for many,” Peprah mentioned.
He endorsed the NDC’s manifesto, which proposes decentralizing the mining licensing course of. The celebration plans to permit miners to acquire licenses on the district degree, eliminating the necessity for long-distance journeys to Accra.
This change, in line with Kwadwo Peprah, will make the licensing course of extra accessible for small-scale miners throughout the nation.
“The NDC promises to bring the licensing process to the district level. This will make it easier for miners to obtain the necessary permits without the hassle of traveling to Accra. We will also bring in technocrats who will help monitor operations to ensure sustainable mining practices,” he added.
Peprah emphasised that the NDC shouldn’t be against small-scale mining, however is firmly in opposition to mining actions that trigger environmental degradation, such because the destruction of forests and water our bodies. He assured miners that the NDC would assist them in the event that they adopted correct pointers for sustainable mining.
“The NDC is not against mining. In fact, it was the NDC that legalized small-scale mining in this country. What we are against is illegal mining that destroys our environment. We will support you to ensure that your operations are sustainable and beneficial to both you and the nation.”
He known as on the miners to assist the NDC within the upcoming elections, praising the celebration’s manifesto as the very best answer for the challenges confronted by small-scale miners.
“We need to tell our families and fellow miners that the NDC’s manifesto addresses our key issues and provides a clear path towards a better future for small-scale mining in Ghana.”
NDC Clarifies Stance on Small-Scale Mining
Samuel Hadjor, a member of the NDC’s nationwide marketing campaign crew, dismissed rumors unfold by the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) that the NDC plans to break down the small-scale mining sector if elected to workplace.
He clarified the celebration’s place on regulating mining actions. “The NDC has never said that we will ban small-scale mining when we win the 2024 elections. What we are saying is that we will regulate small-scale mining activities and train miners with technical skills to ensure responsible operations that do not destroy the environment and water bodies. The NDC is only against mining in water bodies. So, when the NPP says that the NDC will ban small-scale mining, tell them it is not true,” Hadjor clarified.
He additional defined that the following NDC authorities would make sure that each mining website throughout the nation is provided with mining engineers and environmental consultants to information miners on the way to reclaim land and function in an environmentally pleasant method.
Local Miners Raise Concerns About Foreign Involvement in group mining
During the interplay, Daniel Asante Krobea, an area miner, voiced issues about Chinese nationals dominating mining areas meant for group mining. He appealed to the NDC to deal with the difficulty if elected to workplace.
“The NDC manifesto is good, and I’m convinced it will help us miners. But I want you to remove the Chinese people mining here. This place is supposed to be for community mining, yet Chinese have taken over. We, the local people, can’t mine here because they chase us away. We will vote for the NDC, but when you win, please remove all the Chinese people involved in community mining. It is not meant for them,” Krobea said.
The NDC marketing campaign crew assured the miners that their issues could be addressed as a part of the celebration’s dedication to making sure that the small-scale mining sector advantages native communities and operates throughout the regulation.
Read additionally:
Democracy Hub demo: We immobilised the Police vehicle but we didn’t attack anybody – Barker-Vormawor
By Benjamin Aidoo
