Govt gives support to small-scale miners

THE government has released 480,000 acres in 44 districts across the country to enhance the activities of small-scale miners.
The gesture is part of its plan aimed at legalising small-scale mining, popularly referred to as ‘galamsey’.
The Minister for Lands, Forestry and Mines, Mrs Esther Obeng Dapaah, announced this at a press conference ahead of a two-week study tour of 25 small-scale mining operators in the People’s Republic of China.
The delegates for the tour were selected from mining communities noted for intensive small-scale mining operations across the country, including the Western, Eastern and the Upper East regions.
Mrs Dapaah mentioned some of the districts where land had been released as Bibiani, Sunyani, Berekum, Ahafo Ano, Sekyere East, Ejisu-Juaben, Atwima, Juabeso, Upper Denkyira, Assin, East Akim, Aowin-Suaman, Fanteakwa, Amansie West, Wassa Amenfi, Wassa West, Birim North, Twifo-Hemang-Lower Denkyira, Nzema East, Gomoa, Juabeso-Bia, Birim North, Suhum-Kraboa-Coaltar, Bolgatanga and Central Gonja.
She noted that the government had also disbursed funds from the Minerals Development Fund to assist 11,000 small-scale gold producers across the country
Additionally, she said, the government was pursuing a number of interventions to improve the operations of the small-scale sub-sector to further enhance the efficiency and sustainability of small-scale miners.
The study tour to China, which the minister acknowledged had one of the most technologically advanced small-scale mining industries in the world, was organised in fulfilment of a Cabinet directive to demonstrate the government’s commitment to boost the small-scale sub-sector as a vehicle for employment generation and poverty alleviation.
Mrs Dapaah said the small-scale mining sector employed over 500,000 Ghanaians and had been making a significant contribution to Ghana’s gross domestic product (GDP) over the past 100 years.
“The sector accounts for 10.43 per cent of total gold production, generates about US$120 million and contributes 92 per cent of total diamond production, amounting to US$28 million,” she stated.
The trip, she said, was solely sponsored by the Government of Ghana and facilitated by the Shaanxi Mining Company based in Xian, China.
She said it was also to help replace the rudimentary technologies used by small-scale miners through the adoption of modern and cost-effective mechanised and semi-mechanised technologies.
“It is also anticipated that the beneficiaries will learn how legalised and well-organised small-scale mining can be conducted in a sustainable manner and equip the miners with advantages that can be derived from organising small miners into mining co-operatives and associations,” she added.
While in China, Mrs Dapaah said members of the team would attend a series of seminars to appraise themselves of the structure and the modus operandi of the Chinese small-scale mining sector, the regulatory framework and other relevant aspects of the mining industry.
The exposure to be derived from the tour, she emphasised, was expected to usher in a new wind of change in Ghana’s small-scale mining industry to serve as a catalyst for the rapid regularisation of the sector in Ghana.
The minister said it was also envisaged that the tour would help reduce the incidence of illegal mining activities which would also lead to a considerable reduction in the rampant conflicts and tension between major mining companies and small-scale operators in many mining communities in Ghana.