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A/R: Youth in Mining Communities Urge Government to Reject Calls for Mining Ban

Hundreds of youth in mining communities across the Ashanti Region are calling on the government to reject demands by Organised Labour to ban mining in the country.

 The youth view these demands as politically motivated attempts to leave millions of young people in the mining sector jobless.

According to OTEC News Reporter Kwame Agyenim Boateng, who visited mining communities including Manso, Adugyama, and Kunsu, small-scale miners are willing to collaborate with authorities to combat illegal mining.

However, they strongly oppose a complete ban on mining .

Some of the youth in an interview with OTEC News on Tuesday October 8, 2024 said they were not happy with how organized Labour and some groups are handling the issue of illegal mining on partisan lines

One youth posed a thought-provoking question: “Will Organised Labour ask the government to ban all teachers because some are engaging in sex for grade?”

 Another youth, visibly frustrated, asked if the government would ban all forms of fishing due to some individuals using chemicals.

The youth are urging the government and Organised Labour to focus on illegal miners and distinguish them from licensed, responsible miners.

They warn that a mining ban would bring devastating hardship to their communities, potentially increasing social vices in Ghana.

This concern is not unfounded, as research has shown that banning artisanal and small-scale mining can have significant social and economic consequences for young people, affecting their livelihoods and imagined futures

Source: Ghana/otecfmghana.com/Jacob Agyenim Boateng

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