Small-scale Miners to deploy task forces to curb mining in river bodies

The Small-Scale Miners Association is using its task force to fight against mining in river bodies and check members washing mining residues in rivers.

Under the renewed fight, the small-scale miners will double the numbers of their task force to check the illegality.

Already, the heightened activities of the illegal miners is limiting their access to communities of operation and social licenses, which could collapse the sector.

Our news team in Kumasi caught up with the leadership of the Association after a meeting.

On rivers in Ashanti, Western and Eastern Regions, many Changfa boats which were valued at fifteen thousand each were destroyed.

Despite the high handedness and dedication towards the fight, the recalcitrant dredgers who often escaped arrest kept returning.

Ashanti Region PRO, Arafat Sulemana said they are doing everything possible to save the situation.

“We have recorded some gains in the last few weeks and will continue” he assured.

He stated that, the small-scale miners are worried about the threat posed by the heightened illegality to the sector.

The association is hoping to deploy its task force to all river bodies concurrently, with zonal task forces in active operation.

Meanwhile, the Association believes concerns of organized labour and other associations concerning environmental dangers of illegal mining are genuine.

By Benjamin Aidoo