Ibrahim Atipilleh, the newly elected Fomena Constituency Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Ashanti Region, has pledged his support for individuals engaged in illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, in the constituency.
According to the NDC Fomena chairman, galamsey remains the primary source of livelihood for many residents in the area, arguing that it is necessary for him, as constituency chairman, to support those involved in galamsey.
Speaking to the media after his election during the recently concluded NDC constituency executive elections, Ibrahim Atipilleh stated, “I know that in Fomena, the only work we do here is galamsey, so I am standing firmly behind anybody who wants to engage in galamsey in this area. I will allow you to do it the right way, but if you are not doing it the right way, I won’t allow you to do it”.
He further expressed his willingness to collaborate with his predecessor, Eric Opoku, to promote unity and development within the party.
In related news, Sammy Gyamfi, CEO of the Ghana Gold Board, has clarified his earlier comment, which he disclosed has been mischievously cut by members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
According to Sammy Gyamfi, the widely circulated video in circulation leaves out the important details of his explanation of what the government is willing to do to support the formalisation of unlicensed artisanal and small-scale miners (ASMs).
Sammy Gyamfi maintain thst formalising unlicensed artisanal and small-scale miners (ASMs) ‘galamseyers’ is a better approach to fighting illegal mining than chasing them with soldiers.
He argued that the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP) is an ASM formalisation initiative aimed at transforming such unlicensed ASMs into licensed and responsible ASMs to promote sustainability in the sector.
He argued that the Goldbod holds the view that properly organised small-scale mining offers one of the clearest pathways from mineral ownership in law to indigenous ownership in practice.
His comment follows an earlier cut video where he shockingly stated that miners can now mine with or without a licence in Ghana.
According to Sammy Gyamfi, miners can now mine with or without a licence provided they are not mining in water bodies, forest reserves, or close to a road.
In a video shared on X, Sammy Gyamfi disclosed that all District Chief Executives (DCEs) had been tasked with compiling lists of areas where mining activities were currently taking place.
Sammy Gyamfi explained that the Mahama government’s approach is to allow mining in areas outside the restricted locations, regardless of whether the operators held licences.
Speaking at an event, Sammy Gyamfi, in a video shared on X, stated, “As we speak, all DCEs have been tasked to make a list of areas where miners are working. Places miners are working: once it is not a water body, it is not a forest reserve, or a roadside; whether the person has a license or not, the government says that person should be allowed to mine”.
Read Sammy Gyamfi’s full statement below:
“1. There are three (3) forms of unlicensed artisanal and small-scale mining operations that are irredeemably wrong and can neither be tolerated nor reformed.
* Mining that impacts water bodies
* Mining in forest reserves
* Mining in obscene places in communities such as road sides, school lands, bedrooms etc. that pose dangers to society and public health
2. Once artisanal and small-scale miners (ASMs) are not mining in a forest reserve, a water body or an obscene place that negatively impacts the environment, that mineralised area, even if unlicensed, meets the eligibility requirement of FORMALIZATION and can be declared as fit for cooperative mining under the government’s “Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP). I maintain that formalising such unlicensed ASMs is a better approach than chasing them with soldiers. The rCOMSDEP is an ASM formalisation initiative aimed at transforming such unlicensed ASMs into licensed and responsible ASMs to promote sustainability in the sector.
3. The small portion of the video that has been mischievously cut and is being circulated leaves out important details of my explanation of what government is willing to do to support the formalisation of such unlicensed ASMs to ensure that they have the appropriate legal documentation, certifications, permits and training for sustainable small-scale mining.
4. ASM formalisation and traceability is the new paradigm shift of Ghana’s quest towards sustainability in the ASM sector. The provision of formalisation, training and financing support for ASMs whose activities do not negatively impact water bodies, forest reserves or obscene places in our communities to bring them into the formal and responsible mining economy, is a crucial imperative for the fight against irresponsible mining and our national quest to promote sustainability in the mining sector.
5. As I noted in my keynote address at the just-ended Mining in Motion summit on “ASM Formalisation; the new paradigm”;
“…….regulation must be firm, but also practical, inclusive and commercially sound. Reform will endure only when compliance becomes a pathway to opportunity rather than hardships. Mining regulations must therefore do more than police miners; they must formalise, build capacities and create opportunities for young Africans in the mining and trading ecosystem. I believe that with proper formalisation, financing support and training, Artisanal and Small-scale mining can support livelihoods, generate foreign exchange, strengthen reserves, grow indigenous enterprise and advance national development sustainably.”
“We at the GoldBod hold the view that properly organised small-scale mining offers one of the clearest pathways from mineral ownership in law to indigenous ownership in practice. Supported by modern technology and sound engineering, the sector can optimise recovery rates, reduce waste, improve safety, preserve the environment and create productive opportunities for young Africans.”
“This is why the GoldBod will next year roll out an ASM Formalisation and Financing Support Program (FFSP), in close collaboration with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the University of Mines and Technology and Rand Refinery, with the aim of sustainably ramping up gold production, mineral revenue and job creation, while reducing operational costs and environmental risks.”
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