A/R: Small-Scale Miners Urge President Mahama to Fulfill Campaign Promises

Members of the Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners in the Amansie South district, Ashanti Region, have called on President John Dramani Mahama to fulfill his 2024 election promises to protect and sustain small-scale mining activities.

The group claims that despite Mahama’s assurances, they are facing harassment, equipment seizures, and intimidation from the police and the illegal mining taskforce in the district.

According to Kwaku Abonee (Osama), a representative of the association, the taskforce’s activities are giving them sleepless nights, particularly in the Amansie South district where the taskforce remains active.

He noted that all other districts have had their taskforces withdrawn, except Amansie South.

Addressing the media in a press conference on Wednesday, the financial secretary of the association, Hon. Anning Isaac, added that the presence of security personnel in the district is scaring students from going to school, and others are afraid to venture out.

He called on the government to withdraw the security personnel from the district.

For his part, district secretary of the association, Mr. John Henry Damah, emphasized that they are committed to supporting the government in the fight against illegal mining, especially those operating on river bodies.

However, they want the government to recognize and protect the rights of legitimate small-scale miners.

Source: Ghana/otecfmghana.com/Jacob Agyenim Boateng