Collaborate and retool us to assist maintain sanity in the environment within four months-EXOPASGH to Gov't

Excavators Operators Association of Ghana(EXOPASGH) is appealing to government to collaborate and resource them in order to assist in the fight against illegal small scale mining.

The group with membership across the various mining areas of the country claimed they being at the centre of the mining industry have all it may take to restore sanity in the environment but only with government's backing.

In an interview with Soireenews.com, the Chairman, Mr. Solomon Barnes said the sector which employs over 1 million rural Ghanaians with a downstream industry workers of about 4.5 million people means it is a single most employed sector.

Therefore stressing that preventing people from working in the sector would render many jobless and that he said will be disastrous.

He therefore called for pragmatic ways to be put in place in order to sanitize the environment while at the same time keep people's source of income.

It is in this vein that EXOPASGH is appealing to government to equip them with requisite training and licensing regime.

With their major role in the illegal mining activities in terms of excavation, the group could not be left out when instituting measures in making the sector work properly.

Mr. Solomon Barnes disclosed that members of the association have been operating excavators for m decades and they know what their operation entails hence engaging them will be helpful if government is really committed.

Mr. Barnes noted that the association members have maintained that a special training and license regime have to be issued to excavators since most of their members do not hold license.

"Individuals who fail to comply by the rules, their license will be revoked and kick out from operating", the Chairman stressed.

Mr. Solomon Barnes reteirated that with the measures fully implemented, government will reap the beenfits of keeping many engaged in their work, raising funds from the special licensing regime and,at the same time, ensuring safety in the environment.

According to Mr. Solomon Barnes, much as they believe most of the environmental problems in the mining sites were created by the operators of excavators, turning attention to members of EXOPASGH support would help restore the depleted environment.

He further stated they have been working closely with the Chamber of Small Scale Mining Industry In Ghana (COSMIG) who conducts research in the various mining regions to identify ways to restore sanity and that he noted, government could leverage on.

"Ghana continues to suffer from the activities of persons engaged in illegal mining, a situation that is destroying farmlands and water resources", he bemoaned.

"Artisanal and small-scale mining, a low-tech, indigenous mining subsector is taking on increasing economic importance in many developing countries. In Ghana, it supports millions and contributes up to 43% of the nation’s total gold production", he revealed.

...it is urgent government accepts our approach and collaborates with us to clamp down on the artisanal and small-scale mining which is responsible for complex environmental challenges: destruction of land and vegetation", he stressed.