MP Accuses Large Scale Mining Companies Of Flouting Mining Laws 

The MP for Manso Nkwanta in the Ashanti region, Joseph Quarm, has disclosed that the Amansie West district of Ashanti has been zoned out for only large scale mining.

However, the concession holders have given out part of their holdings on consent to small scale miners against the current mining laws of Ghana. 
 
Addressing a town hall meeting at Manso Nkwanta on the issue of illegal mining, the MP described all small scale mining operations within the Amansie West district as unlawful. 
 
Mr. Quarm noted that the moratorium placed on small scale and illegal mining in the country by government is very appropriate to give the state the room to streamline and properly regulate the industry in the interest of current and future generations.

He decried the damage uncontrolled mining activities have caused to arable lands and water sources in the district saying government will require four point-six-two billion Ghana Cedis or 10 percent of the Gross Domestic Product to reclaim the destroyed lands. 

Mr. Quarm noted again that government’s Multilateral Integrated Mining program is meant also to flush out foreigners who until now have been using various fraudulent strategies to extract and export gold with a huge street value at the expense of Ghanaians.

During an open forum, the participants raised issues with the approach adopted by government to address the problem with small scale mining. 

It was jointly organized by the Media Coalition Against Galamsey and the National Commission for Civic Education, NCCE.

GBC