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Small-Scale Mining Is Not A Criminal Venture, Don't Ban It - GNASSM To Gov't

General Secretary for the Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners (GNASSM) Godwin Armah, has called on the government to tread cautiously, by not succumbing to pressure, and impose an outright ban on all mining across the country.

According to the GNASSM General Secretary, small-scale mining is not a criminal activity as currently perceived by the public, and, therefore, the government should find alternative solutions to curb the illegal mining menace, otherwise known as galamsey, rather than banning mining altogether.

He warned that there could be dire consequences for the country should the government impose a total ban on all forms of small-scale mining activities.

Speaking at a news conference at Bunso in the Eastern Region, Mr. Armah added that the small-scale miners do not support the pollution of rivers and water bodies in the country and the destruction of the country's forest reserve through illegal ming (Galamsay) activities, but there are other forms of measures and approaches government could apply to curb the situation rather than putting an airtight ban on small scale activities which some groups are advocating.

Mr. Godwin Armah, therefore, calls on all the flagbearers of all the political parties to honorably declare their stance on galamsey as only a small number of individuals are involved in illegal activities.