The Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners has warned that it will confront individuals posing as military and national security operatives who are extorting money from its members and harassing them under the guise of combating illegal mining.
The Association alleges that some individuals, believed to be affiliated with the ruling National Democratic Congress, are visiting mining sites owned by its members to extort money under the pretext of fighting illegal mining.
According to the leadership of the Association, complaints from members in the Amansie areas continue to pour in, expressing frustration over the situation.
Speaking at a news conference in Kumasi on March 19, the Ashanti Regional Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners, Michael Adu Gyamfi, urged the President, the Ashanti Regional Minister, and other relevant authorities to intervene immediately to prevent a potential clash between its members and these individuals.
“All the presidents who had the chance to rule this country had a good motive behind the fight against illegal mining. But one way or the other, some party apparatus and some people within the party are the main cause of the failures associated with the fight against illegal mining,” he stated.
He also called on the President, the Ashanti Regional Minister, and the National Security Coordinator in the Ashanti Region to take swift action against these individuals.
“We are using this medium to inform the president as well as the Ashanti Regional Minister and the National Security Coordinator in the Ashanti Region to be wide awake and make sure that they talk to their people who have put it upon themselves to engage in such a dastardly act.
“As per the information that we are receiving from the people in the zonal area, the next time such an incident happens, they will not allow themselves to be taken over, and there could be a possible clash that could create fatalities.
“We are calling on the government and the Ashanti Regional Minister to make sure that those who are going around parading themselves as national security operatives are stopped for the interest of the people of Ghana as well as the mining industry.”
He further assured the government of the Association’s commitment to sustainable mining practices and environmental protection.
“We want to assure the government that the Ghana Association of Small-Scale Mining has vowed and has put itself in a position to support every meaningful activity by the government to ensure that every small-scale mining is done sustainably as well as protecting our environment,” he added.
Meanwhile, Acting Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator, Captain (Retired) John Kwame Jabari, confirmed recent arrests related to the situation.
“We are aware of the situation. Over our two weeks, we have had separate incidents where about four or five of them, were people patrolling to be soldiers or from national security or the police going to mining sites.
“Most of the time when it happens like that, and we get wind of it, and we are not in that constituency, we follow up with the police in that constituency for assistance. Within the week, we have been able to apprehend them with the assistance of the police,” he stated.