The Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners (GNASSM) has asked President Nana Addo Dankwa to come clean and declare the land allocated for community mining since the introduction of the concept.

The Association believes most of the land allocated for community mining by the government ended up in the hands of party men leaving their members to continue struggling due to undue politicisation of the concept.

The Ashanti District of GNASSM making such revelation argues the community mining model which was introduced to government and further implemented on party lines is the brainchild of GNASSM.

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GNASSM's worry is that the implementation sidelined the association and other main stakeholders.

Issuing of license for community mining was done from the office of the President and ministers. GNASSM says MMDCE's were responsible for monitoring and supervision, creating room for party supporters to influence and abuse the concept.

Such development accounted for a rise in forest encroachment and other infractions.

The statement from Ashanti District of GNASSM signed by secretary Mr Adu Gyamfi is calling for a review of the whole community mining policy where institutions and stakeholders in the small scale mining sector are handed free regulatory mandate devoid of politicisation to give credence to the President's call for depoliticization of small scale mining in his inaugural address.

Joe Marfo, Ashanti Regional Correspondent