The Upper East and North East Regional Chairman of the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners (GNASSM), Yaw Mort, has declared a firm stance against illegal mining activities, popularly known as galamsey, in the two regions.
Mr. Mort said under his leadership, GNASSM in the Upper East and North East would maintain zero tolerance for any miner caught operating in water bodies or forest reserves, stressing that such actions were not only illegal but destructive to the environment.
“We don’t mine on water bodies, and we have urged and warned our people not to go into water bodies or forests to mine,” he stated. “Any miner who does so and is caught, GNASSM will not help get him out of his calamities. We will ensure you go — and you go forever.”
He made the remarks during a sensitization workshop on GOLDBOD’s gold pricing policy and sustainable mining practices held in Bolgatanga. The event brought together miners from Talensi, Gbani, Nangurma, Bongo, Sandema, Nabdam, Sherigu, Teshie, Widnaba, and other gold-producing communities across the two regions.
The workshop, organized by GNASSM, sought to educate miners on the use of official GOLDBOD receipts in all gold transactions and promote best practices in sustainable and responsible mining.
Mr. Mort emphasized that small-scale miners in the Upper East and North East regions have demonstrated commitment to responsible mining compared to other parts of the country.
“I have been saying that GNASSM in the Upper East and North East is doing the most responsible mining in Ghana. We see things happening down south, but you can never see those things happening here,” he said.
He, however, appealed to national authorities to support small-scale miners in accessing lands that have been taken over by large-scale mining companies, many of which he said were owned by non-indigenes.
“We have the land and the deposits, but we don’t have access because these areas have been taken over. We are calling on the government to release some of these lands to us so that we can also mine responsibly,” he added.
Mr. Mort further urged miners to embrace the cooperative mining model being promoted by the current administration, noting that it offers a sustainable and legal pathway for small-scale mining.
“The former administration had community mining; this government has cooperative mining. Some of our areas, like Tokotakwa, Kardema, and Nangode, have already started working under this initiative,” he said.
He warned that miners who fail to regularize their operations risk losing their livelihoods when regulatory authorities begin strict enforcement.
“If they come and you don’t have documentation, you cannot work. We must take our work seriously. Mining is an industry — and when you work seriously, it changes your life,” Mr. Mort emphasized.
The workshop ended with a renewed commitment from participants to strengthen responsible mining practices, promote environmental conservation, and ensure transparency in gold trade across the Upper East and North East regions.
Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Joshua Asaah|Bolgatanga
