Former Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines Joyce Aryee says the fight against illegal small-scale mining should not be directed at the labourers who descend into the bellies of the earth in search of precious minerals but to those who invest money into it.
According to Ms Aryee, those who invest money into the unlawful act, by paying the illegal miners and securing equipment for the purposes, must rather be tackled.
She explained that those who labour in the value chain do so because they want to earn a living and are given this by investors.
Speaking on Hot Issues on TV3 on Saturday, April 29, Ms Aryee said because what they want is payment for work done, labourers – popularly known as galamseyer – disregard the degradation their activities cause.
A lot of those miners do not even belong to the area, she cited, adding that some even are from outside Ghana.
She, therefore, asked the Minerals Commission to change its approach by confronting those who own the equipment used in the business. She explained that mining of any mineral cannot be banned since “it is critical to us”.
The former Chamber of Mines boss said because almost every gadget found in homes and offices are products of mining, the business cannot be stopped.
“What it will be is to get the Minerals Commission to take the whole issue of licensing and monitoring very seriously.” She also called for a constant campaign “to get people to undertand what the right things are.”
Source: 3news
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When people of substance speak don't come here and speak like you know something about the industry? Madam you speak my mind ,just stop those in the rivers and regulate the rest period. If you try to stop it you will fail, mark my words.
Madame, it seems that you are really naive of the subsequent,disastrous consequence in the future. LICENSING THIS OPEN-MINING DOES NOT STOP POLLUTION. Have a look at the ff: " mining of any mineral cannot be banned since “it is critical to us". Why they cannot ban what is destroying the nation? She means that the ultimate pollution does not concern "them". What is critical to them? Stopping the pollution or legalizing the pollution by licensing. There is no other way to solve this problem other than TOTAL BAN. Scanning her view labels her as an irresponsible CEO