The Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners (GNASSM) have promised to support Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo’s government to succeed as president in his second term but cautioned that they will not welcome any sanction on the trade.

The President of Ghana placed a ban on Galamsey due to the disturbing role it played against possessed communities destroying water bodies, threatening lives through exposure to mercury poisoning, and causing havoc to Ghana’s cocoa sector.

Nana Addo’s decision led to a loss of votes in the just-ended elections as the opposition took advantage of the ban and assured its revival when they are in power.

The Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah revealed on Wednesday, January 6, 2021, that President Akufo-Addo’s fight against illegal mining in the country, cost him votes in the 2020 polls.

During the president’s State of the Nation Address on Tuesday, Nana Addo spoke that the issue of small-scale mining which is now partisan in character would not help to resolve the threats against lives but should be considered a menace affecting Ghanaians and the generation to come.

In a press statement signed and released by the General Secretary of GNASSM, Godwin Armah, the licensed small Scale Miners will not support any ban on the trade by the president and have “positioned itself well to collaborate with government and provide all the needed assistance and direction to fight illegal small scale mining menace popularly known as "Galamsey".

The release assured that it “is expecting to meet the President after the swearing-in of his second term for a possible dialogue to inform his next line of action.”

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Read full Statement:

The Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners (GNASSM) has described as refreshing and welcoming the President admission that politicization of the small scale mining sector is not the best approach to fight the menace.

This development according to the association is a vindication of their earlier position that depoliticization is the only remedy to sanitize the sector and contribute meaningfully to the economy.

Touching on issues regarding illegal small scale mining during the last State of the Nation's Address of the 7th parliament of Ghana's 4th Republic, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo lamented, " We, who are leaders, owe it to the country to take the subject out of the party political arena and have an honest conversation about this menace to our future"

He also underlined the employment of indecent technology in small scale mining activities that has contributed to the nation's rapid environmental degradation and pollution.

In reaction, GNASSM believes the admission alone provides the opportunity to make amends and ensure that small scale mining is done responsibly and sustainably in Ghana.

The association which contends having learnt many lessons following the NPP government's ban on small scale mining in their first term will not support any ban on licensed small Scale Miners but has positioned itself well to collaborate with government and provide all the needed assistance and direction to fight illegal small scale mining menace popularly known as "Galamsey".

The association is expecting to meet the President after the swearing-in of his second term for a possible dialogue to inform his next line of action.

Such opportunity according to GNASSM has eluded them due to the machinations of some government officials with reasons best known to them.

We therefore see the President's admonishment and posture as the reopening of a new chapter in the nation's quest to secure responsible and sustainable small scale mining and derive the maximum benefit in the areas of revenue, employment and development.

LONG LIVE GNASSM

LONG LIVE GHANA

              Signed

           Godwin Armah

         General Secretary