*ULTIMATUM FOR GOVERNMENT TO LIFT BAN ON SMALL SCALE MINING - CSSMUG*
We, the Concerned Small Scale Miners Union of Ghana wish to make a case for our business and to bring the attention of Nana Akufo Addo’s government to the frustrating effects of its ban on all forms of Small Scale Mining for the past one year.
The ban, albeit unjustifiable and cowardly in our estimation, was welcomed for the collective good of the Ghanaian people and our commitment to help save our environment, water bodies and vegetation from the degradation which was been perpetuated by illegal miners, otherwise known as ‘galamsey’ operators.
Ladies and gentlemen, for the past one year that we have been ceased to operate our law-backed enterprises, we have demonstrated to the world that Small Scale Miners, the CSSMUG and other allied associations for that matter are not and cannot be held responsible for the deterioration of our lands and poisoning of our water bodies due to the activities of illegal mining in our forests and rivers.
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has found it worthy to praise our efforts in helping to boot out ‘galamsey’ operators who had defied the moratorium and continue to do so in spite of the deployment of the big-budget Operation Vanguard.
As law abiding citizens, we have cooperated and fulfilled our part of the bargain and therefore find the feet-dragging attitude by the government baffling and suffocating.
We are surprised that the government of Nana Akufo Addo of all presidents and the New Patriotic Party for that matter would do anything to frustrate indigenous private Ghanaian enterprises and force them out business in plain contradiction of their political ideology of Capitalism and Property-Owning Democracy.
Ladies and gentlemen, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, then a presidential candidate addressing the people of Obuasi at a party rally on Friday, July 15, 2016 remarked rather unambiguously that, “I was here in Obuasi to say that Galamsey, which I prefer to call small-scale mining, will be regularized, to ensure that the youth all find work to do. Shortly afterwards, Mahama also came here to tell you that I was lying, and that an Akufo-Addo government will rather sack everyone involved in ‘galamsey’ ”.
We wish to put on record that, Small Scale Mining is not ‘galamsey’ as his Excellency the President wants Ghanaians to believe and that we will resist this label, although the contrary is what pertains now to what he told the people of Obuasi and other mining communities to win their votes.
Ladies and gentlemen, we are by this gathering here serving notice that the CSSMUG would be left with no option than to visit our wrath on the Chinese and other expatriates who are still mining in our forests and on our water bodies with state security and forcibly flush them out with our last drops of blood.
Small Scale Mining as enshrined in our laws is a preserve for Ghanaians and no foreigner has no right whatsoever to engage in same.
It is therefore curious that government would shield law breakers like the C&G Alaska Mining Company who are ravaging the Upper Wassa Forest Reserve at Juabo and Apamprama in the Amansie West District and shamelessly protect them with state security, whilst Ghanaian citizens who voted to put this government in power are wallowing in shame bankruptcy.
We promise that the consequences would be brutal if these foreigners mining illegally are not stopped and their state security withdrawn immediately for we are ready to give up our lives to save what is rightfully ours.
Our members are dying as a result of this ban, many others have gone bankrupt, our homes are breaking and the banks are on our necks to recoup their monies given to our members in loans.
If we do not hear anything positive from the government by the end of this month, we would be left with no alternative than to order all our members to go back to their mining sites to resume work since our licenses are still valid.
We have taken note of the directive by the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Member of Parliament for the Bekwai Constituency, Hon Joe Osei Owusu for military personnel to shoot to kill any small scale miner (the very people who voted to put him into that privileged position) who would be found working and has therefore prepared ourselves adequately to protect our lives.
We are Ghanaians by blood and by law and we are prepared to resist any oppression and fight for our right to work and survival.
The Government of Ghana has demonstrated its incompetence in fighting against illegal mining and has showed its willingness to sacrifice our businesses to save its face from the embarrassment.
We hereby appeal to all Ghanaians, the international community, civil society and the Government of Ghana to avail their minds and attention to the urgency of this matter before it gets out of hands.
Long live small scale mining
Long live Ghana
Michael Kwadwo Peprah
0248775556
Ben Annan
0246304638
Thank you all.
cc: All media houses
We, the Concerned Small Scale Miners Union of Ghana wish to make a case for our business and to bring the attention of Nana Akufo Addo’s government to the frustrating effects of its ban on all forms of Small Scale Mining for the past one year.
The ban, albeit unjustifiable and cowardly in our estimation, was welcomed for the collective good of the Ghanaian people and our commitment to help save our environment, water bodies and vegetation from the degradation which was been perpetuated by illegal miners, otherwise known as ‘galamsey’ operators.
Ladies and gentlemen, for the past one year that we have been ceased to operate our law-backed enterprises, we have demonstrated to the world that Small Scale Miners, the CSSMUG and other allied associations for that matter are not and cannot be held responsible for the deterioration of our lands and poisoning of our water bodies due to the activities of illegal mining in our forests and rivers.
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has found it worthy to praise our efforts in helping to boot out ‘galamsey’ operators who had defied the moratorium and continue to do so in spite of the deployment of the big-budget Operation Vanguard.
As law abiding citizens, we have cooperated and fulfilled our part of the bargain and therefore find the feet-dragging attitude by the government baffling and suffocating.
We are surprised that the government of Nana Akufo Addo of all presidents and the New Patriotic Party for that matter would do anything to frustrate indigenous private Ghanaian enterprises and force them out business in plain contradiction of their political ideology of Capitalism and Property-Owning Democracy.
Ladies and gentlemen, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, then a presidential candidate addressing the people of Obuasi at a party rally on Friday, July 15, 2016 remarked rather unambiguously that, “I was here in Obuasi to say that Galamsey, which I prefer to call small-scale mining, will be regularized, to ensure that the youth all find work to do. Shortly afterwards, Mahama also came here to tell you that I was lying, and that an Akufo-Addo government will rather sack everyone involved in ‘galamsey’ ”.
We wish to put on record that, Small Scale Mining is not ‘galamsey’ as his Excellency the President wants Ghanaians to believe and that we will resist this label, although the contrary is what pertains now to what he told the people of Obuasi and other mining communities to win their votes.
Ladies and gentlemen, we are by this gathering here serving notice that the CSSMUG would be left with no option than to visit our wrath on the Chinese and other expatriates who are still mining in our forests and on our water bodies with state security and forcibly flush them out with our last drops of blood.
Small Scale Mining as enshrined in our laws is a preserve for Ghanaians and no foreigner has no right whatsoever to engage in same.
It is therefore curious that government would shield law breakers like the C&G Alaska Mining Company who are ravaging the Upper Wassa Forest Reserve at Juabo and Apamprama in the Amansie West District and shamelessly protect them with state security, whilst Ghanaian citizens who voted to put this government in power are wallowing in shame bankruptcy.
We promise that the consequences would be brutal if these foreigners mining illegally are not stopped and their state security withdrawn immediately for we are ready to give up our lives to save what is rightfully ours.
Our members are dying as a result of this ban, many others have gone bankrupt, our homes are breaking and the banks are on our necks to recoup their monies given to our members in loans.
If we do not hear anything positive from the government by the end of this month, we would be left with no alternative than to order all our members to go back to their mining sites to resume work since our licenses are still valid.
We have taken note of the directive by the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Member of Parliament for the Bekwai Constituency, Hon Joe Osei Owusu for military personnel to shoot to kill any small scale miner (the very people who voted to put him into that privileged position) who would be found working and has therefore prepared ourselves adequately to protect our lives.
We are Ghanaians by blood and by law and we are prepared to resist any oppression and fight for our right to work and survival.
The Government of Ghana has demonstrated its incompetence in fighting against illegal mining and has showed its willingness to sacrifice our businesses to save its face from the embarrassment.
We hereby appeal to all Ghanaians, the international community, civil society and the Government of Ghana to avail their minds and attention to the urgency of this matter before it gets out of hands.
Long live small scale mining
Long live Ghana
Michael Kwadwo Peprah
0248775556
Ben Annan
0246304638
Thank you all.
cc: All media houses
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