Lands Minister Averts Bloody Clash …Between National Anti-Galamsey Taskforce And Alleged Illegal Taskforce

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has reportedly averted a bloody clash between the National Anti-Galamsey Taskforce and a parallel anti-illegal Taskforce in the Western Region.

Last week, it took the timely intervention of the Minister to resolve a near volatile clash between the National Anti-Galamsey Taskforce and a parallel anti-illegal Taskforce, whose membership parade themselves as the Taskforce formed by the government, according to Mr. Michael Kwabena Peprah, President of the National Concerned Small Scale Miners Association of Ghana.

In a spate of one week, the National Concerned Small Scale Miners Association of Ghana and the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners have raised grave concerns over the operations of the said parallel anti-illegal taskforce.

Mr Michael Kwabena Peprah, who briefed The Chronicle about the development, commended the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources for resolving the situation to avert imminent bloodshed.

The National Anti-Galamsey Taskforce was set up by the government to tackle the menace of illegal mining in a national effort to regulate the mining industry and ensure that mining activities are carried out in a responsible and sustainable manner, but its efforts are being undermined by the activities of this parallel taskforce.

The illegal taskforce, reportedly formed by some self-centred influential individuals, is thwarting the efforts of the government to clamp down on illegal mining activities in the country.

According to Mr. Peprah, this illegal group has been spotted at various mining sites, including Prestea, where they seized and burned 60 excavators without any mandate to do so.

He also cited similar situations where this illegal taskforce portraying themselves as members of the National Anti- Galamsey Taskforce extort money from licensed miners amid threats at some mining sites in the Ashanti Region during, which operations a number of excavators are burnt.

Mr. Peprah, on behalf of affected miners, has expressed disappointment and frustration over the approach of the illegal taskforce, which is causing more harm than good, and called on the government to intervene and protect the interests of licensed miners.

The miners believe that the government needs to take immediate action to prevent the operations of this illegal group, which is damaging their businesses and undermining the efforts of the government.

The National Concerned Small Scale Miners Association of Ghana President noted that the lack of awareness on the part of the sector minister and President John Dramani Mahama about the activities of this illegal taskforce is denting government efforts to regulate the mining industry.

The legitimate small-scale mining companies affected by the activities of the illegal taskforce argue that the actions of this illegal group are not only damaging their businesses, but also undermining the government’s efforts to effectively regulate the mining industry.

They also raised concerns about the safety and security of miners and their equipment and said the burning of machines and seizure of property are not only causing financial losses, but also putting lives at risk.

The Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners believes that if the unlawful approach of the illegal taskforce continues, the GOLDBOD initiative launched by the government will be affected drastically.

The association is worried that the activities of the illegal group will undermine the government’s efforts to promote responsible mining practices.

Mr. Kwabena Peprah questioned the approach and modus operandi of unauthorized Taskforce, which goes about levelling accusations against the National Anti-Illegal Mining Taskforce of unlawful activities and called for government intervention to take immediate steps to disband the illegal taskforce to protect the legitimate mining industry.

He stressed the need for the government to take decisive action to address the situation and prevent further chaos.

“The activities of the illegal taskforce are causing financial losses and undermining the government’s efforts to regulate the sector and thus impacting negatively on the mining industry. The government needs to take immediate action to address the situation and ensure that the mining industry operates in a safe and responsible manner,” one industry player stated.

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