LEAVE THE MINERS ALONE, THE POLITICIANS ARE WORST CULPRITS- GNASSM TASKFORCE

LEAVE THE MINERS ALONE, THE POLITICIANS ARE WORST CULPRITS- GNASSM TASKFORCE

A member of the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners Taskforce against illegal mining has revealed that so long as politicians continue to manipulate the mining sector especially small scale mining, it will be difficult for the nation to win the war against illegal and irresponsible mining.

Andoh Bresi believes that failed attempts by  successive governments  to regulate the mining sector, should be blamed on politicians rather than putting all the blame at the doorstep of the miners.

Though he concedes, some of the miners do things haphazardly, the connivance of politicians for their selfish interest and lack of political will to ensure sustainance of proper regulations continue to contribute to the worsening  environmental degradation and pollution of the river bodies.

He is worried about how numerous government policies aiming at controlling illegal and irresponsible mining has not been successful, accusing the politician for employing political power in such situations to their advantage.

In such instances, the politicians become miners and flout their own laws to defeat government's good intentions.

According to him, the neglect of the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners in the formulation and implementation of such policies is another biggest factor.

Describing GNASSM as the only legitimate body to oversee the activities of small scale mining in Ghana, it should be  worrying to every Ghanaian why such body is always relegated to the fore when addressing issues and challenges in the sector.

He has therefore challenged GNASSM to look beyond the level of the politicians and take up the responsibility of ensuring that sustainable and responsible small scale mining is practised in Ghana.

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Bresi 0240551020

Adu Gyamfi. 0244957700