The Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners (GNASSM) has enhanced its task force and monitoring units with advanced machinery to intensify the fight against illegal mining, locally known as galamsey.
Illegal mining has severely damaged the country’s environment and water resources.
Equipped with two speedboats, additional personnel, and modern techniques, the GNASSM task force now patrols river bodies and highways to combat illegal miners polluting water sources and operating near highways.
The team also targets those fabricating dredgers used in illegal mining operations.
During a press conference in Kumasi on Friday, October 3, 2024, under the theme “Operation Save Our Waters: A Quest for Equity,” GNASSM General Secretary, Godwin Armah, called on the government for increased support.
“We need personnel and logistical backing from the government. The trained water guards should join forces with us to clamp down on illegal mining in our rivers,” he urged.
Samson Wiredu, Vice-President of GNASSM, emphasized the importance of a community-driven approach in the fight against galamsey.
“Our task force is rooted in the community. We know the illegal miners, and we’re going after them. What we need from the government is security personnel and patrol cars to lead this fight effectively,” Wiredu said.
The task force has already recorded notable successes. In collaboration with police, the GNASSM’s Eastern Regional arm recently arrested an illegal miner on the Birim River in Akyem Mosso.
The miner, a Togolese national, was apprehended while 40 others escaped. The task force also destroyed 20 changfan machines used by the miners on the river. Earlier this year, they arrested 29 galamseyers in a swoop in Akyem Pramkese, Kwaebibirem Municipality.
GNASSM continues its efforts to promote responsible mining and has adopted the Birim River as a key project to demonstrate its commitment to reducing its pollution.
They have also voiced concerns over mining activities in forest reserves, warning of the potential for irreparable damage to biodiversity.
The association has urged the government to reconsider granting licenses for mining in forest reserves like Tano Offin and Atewa Range, which are globally recognized for their ecological importance.
In response to the planned sit-down strike by Organized Labour on October 10, 2024, GNASSM cautioned against the economic impact.
“A strike will harm Ghana’s fragile economy. We urge both Labour and the government to find a solution to the galamsey issue that respects technical institutions and avoids political partisanship,” Armah stated.
GNASSM also called for a bipartisan approach to addressing the illegal mining crisis, urging politicians to refrain from using the issue for personal gain.