A group of small scale miners calling itself Gold Coast Mining group, has threatened to wage a massive campaign against the re-election of New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of parliament in the 73 mining districts of Ghana for allegedly failing to advise President Akufo Addo to lift the ban on small scale mining in the country.
According to the group, it has started a campaign to canvass all small scale miners and their dependents to vote against NPP MPs aspirants over what they describe as neglect.
“We will embark on this campaign because of the MPs inability to make sure the ban is lifted after two years of hunger, debt and loss of lives. Our MPs have disappointed us. We were here with them, and they assured us they were going to ensure we return to work but none of them has stood for our course”.
President Akufo Addo upon assuming office in January 2017, place a ban on small scale mining in a bid to ensure the reclamation and re-afforestation of mined-out areas and restoration of impacted water bodies.
Overtime, government has given several timelines to have the ban lifted after a committee set up to develop a comprehensive Road Map to guide the activities of small-scale miners presented its report.
Speaking on Anopa Kasapa on Kasapa Fm, Spokesperson for the group, Justice Addo told sit-in host Akwasi Nsiah, they supported the MPs by contributing monies to their campaign and therefore and that they have failed to do their bid by ensuring that they return to work.
“We supported them with our monies. They promised to speak for us and also assure us they will speak to the president about our concern. We haven’t seen any indication from them to suggest that they are really taking action on our behalf. We will campaign against them, come 2020” he said.
He however alleged that, government has provided security for Chinese illegal miners and some bigwigs in the NPP who are also involved in “galamsey”.
Responding to the threat by the group, Member of Parliament for Manhyia North, Collins Owusu Amankwah, expressed disappointment with the position taken by the group saying “have they come to parliament to ask what is being done in respect to their concerns or have they petition the various members of parliament to ascertain the progress each of them is making to have the ban lifted” he asked on Kasapa Fm.
He added that, the group did not do proper research before coming out with the assertion of neglect by MPs.
Hon. Collins Owusu Amankwah however urged them to exercise patience as government puts plans in place to have the ban lifted very soon.
