Okyenhene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin wants small scale mining banned


The Okyenhene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, has called on government to freeze small-scale mining, claiming it is not different from illegal mining (galamsey). 

In his view small-scale mining is official galamsey, adding that “There is no way we can deal with galamsey if we allow small-scale mining to subsist. 

Small-scale mining must be banned alongside galamsey.” He emphasized that, “In practical terms, there are barely any differences, either organisationally or technologically, between unregistered illegal miners and registered small-scale miners.”  

He chastised government for issuing out permits to small scale miners without a proper regulatory system in place. 

“We cannot continue to issue licences to small-scale miners when, as a country, we lack the regulatory mechanism to evaluate risks thoroughly and ensure that the methods and chemicals used are safe." 

“Both galamsey and small-scale mining involve rudimentary techniques of mineral extraction, highly manual processes, hazardous working conditions and minimal capital investment. 

The only difference is that registered small-scale miners have security of land tenure,” he clarified. 

The Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area, which is under the authority of the Okyenhene, is one of the worst-hit by illegal mining, from the pollution of water bodies to the destruction of cocoa farms and agricultural land. 

Ghana’s mining laws require that mining companies treat the water used for mining activities before it is discharged into the environment, but for illegal miners, water bodies are the centre of their operations, a situation that makes communities living along rivers vulnerable to the effects of the dangerous chemicals used. 

Osagyefo Ofori Panin noted that many rural dwellers living along the banks of rivers were exposed to mercury-contaminated raw water. 

Indeed, traces of two heavy metals, arsenic and mercury, found in the Birim River in a research conducted by the Water Research Institute (WRI) have been tagged as harmful by the World Health Organisation (WHO). 

“Mercury may have toxic effects on the nervous, digestive and immune systems and on lungs, kidneys, the skin and eyes. People are mainly exposed to methylmercury, an organic compound, when they eat fish and shellfish that contain the compound,” the WHO said on its website. 

The Okyenhene, wants government to extend its ban on galamsey to the sale of mercury. 

In 2013, the Mahama Administration rolled out a big crackdown on illegal mining, which resulted in hundreds of illegal foreign miners being deported, but the campaign lost steam midway. 

According to the Okyenhene, it was because there were “big boys” in the galamsey chain who put their interest over the environment. 

While he could not mention names, he said “trust me. There are big boys. These boys around here don’t have money to buy excavators and they don’t have money to pay for the rent which is about GH¢2000 per day.” 

“Every one of them has sponsors, big ones coming from Accra. They have party affiliations. I’m not singling out any party but what I am saying is there is a whole mafia around this galamsey.” 

He recalled that since 2009, he had made several attempts to rid his land of illegal mining without success because whenever the excavators were seized there was always an excuse to hand it over to the owners. 

Citing a recent example, he said “last October, after being so frustrated, I caught up with the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) and we discussed at length the illegal mining issue and I asked him to do me a favour by sending some of his men.” 

He explained that together with some of his subjects, they flew over the area and spotted the hot spots. 

“A week later, they came to this town with 350 soldiers, within four days, the whole galamsey area was shut down. On the sixth day, the soldiers were called back to Accra... orders from above... “You can check this with the CDS. Within four to five days, the whole place was shut down, that is why I believe law enforcement can stop this. 

They were running, and they were hiding their machines. “The soldiers went back to Accra. 

He was called and told don’t you know it is an election year? They placed votes ahead of voters’ life? After they left two days later, the operation began again.” He said he had a similar experience with the late President J.E.A Mills, who directed the then Eastern Regional Minister, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, to deal with the situation. 

He said the excavators which were seized were returned to the owners with the excuse that “the owners did not know the boys would be using it for galamsey.”

SOURCE: Daily Graphic