We pledge to support the Galamsey fight, but bring Navies to monitor rivers - Western regional small scale miners

The newly inaugurated Western Regional chapter of the Small Scale Miners Association has strongly pledged to collaborate with the government in the fight against illegal mining activities in the region and the country at large. 

They however pleaded with the government to make sure some navy officers are brought from the sea to also monitor illegalities on some river bodies.

Addressing the news conference at Wasa Akropong, Chairman for the association, Dr Nana Twum Barima V, insisted that they are very poised for their collaboration with the government to fight vehemently to uproot illegal miners from the country.

The New chairman, therefore, pleaded with the government to do a broader consultation concerning the vowed fight.

"We are very poised to give information about illegal miners who operate in the region and where they operate as well.

The association intends to buy for vehicles to patrol all the illegal mining sites," he said.

He then entreated all legal small scale miners within the region whose excavators have been burnt by the government to take heart, for the association will take proper action after a thorough investigation.

Adding his voice, the new secretary for the Western regional chapter of small scale mining association, Mr Stephen Baidoo gave assurance to the government that the association pledges to making sure everyone doing illegal mining in the area cannot be tolerated and they will make themselves tax force to monitor everyone.

"Even those who have the right documents will be compelled to reclaim the land after every activity," he said.

He finally suggested that the government should bring some Navy officials from the Sea to also monitor some big rivers to help preserve our rivers as expected.

"The major issue on the ground is all about these illegal miners who operate on the river bodies. It's our humble plea that navy officials who are always patrolling on Sea be brought on the river bodies too. Their works should not only be done on the Sea, but they should turn to these river bodies where the main issue is faced''.     

Lastly, Vice Chairman of the association, Nana Mensah pleaded with the government to allow qualified miners, especially those who went to UmAt for special training to go back on-site to work.

According to him, the government compelling both legal and illegal miners to stay home makes the training they acquired from the school worthless. He's worried about how the situation is creating unemployment.

Nana finally pledged that the association will back the government to ensure sanity in the system.

Source; Nana Peprah