Miners set to stage massive demonstration against government over harassment and unsigned licenses.
Members of the Ashanti district of the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners (GNASSM) have threatened to stage a massive demonstration over what they describe as frequent harassment and unfair treatment of its members by government.
Expressing total dissatisfaction over recent harassment on its members by military operatives in part of the Ashanti region, specifically, the Amansie South enclave, they said they can’t bear it any longer.
According to them, their concerns are borne out of the inconsistencies in government directives vis à vis military operations aimed at flushing out illegal small scale miners operating within the no go areas being the “Red Zones” characterized by seizure of excavators.
“Our observation points to the fact that, such operations sought to depart from the ideal principles of the reality because of its selective target approach”.
In a statement signed by Adu Gyamfi who is the Ashanti chapter secretary, most of the affected miners are not in the red zones but their excavators have been seized for no apparent reason, whilst others in the same locations are left off the hook.
“Meanwhile those mining in the forest and on the river bodies which should be the focus are not targeted. “As much as we detest to draw political conclusions on small scale mining operations in the region, we are compelled to do so due to the magnanimity of happenings in the Ashanti region which calls for answers and clarity”.
They are entreating legitimate future operations to concentrate on the red zones so that their members mining responsibly out of the red zones should be at liberty to work whilst we find solution on the release of the seized excavators. “The history and story of missing excavators in similar operations which plunged some of our members into abject poverty, pain and death is still fresh on our minds and “NEVER AGAIN” are we going to allow it recurrence”.
Lamenting how they have suffered a lot in the hands of this administration, the miners said the continuation of the status-quo will resort to no other alternative than advising themselves.
They also blame the sector minister John Abu Jinapor for his persistent failure sign licenses where they indicated that the act of the minister is rather promoting illegal mining.
The secretary further said, such demeanor and posture of the minister which to some of them is deliberate, is a worrisome situation they tend to cope with.
They have therefore given the government some few days ultimatum to end the infortunate acts else, they stage massive demonstration against.
