According to the Concerned Small Scale Miners Association, its representatives have left their concessions to prevent intimidation by military personnel as part of the government’s ‘Operation Halt’ exercise.
The Association has expressed reservations regarding the government’s response to combating illegal mining, arguing that the demolition of mining machinery has affected some of its representatives who are legally permitted to work.
Kwadwo Peprah, the Association’s National President, said in a Citi News interview that “Operation Halt” may affect innocent legitimate miners, which is why they have agreed to leave temporarily.
“In reality, all small-scale miners have left since, per the Minister’s order, the military has been granted the mandate to clear all individuals mining in forest reserves and citizens employed on different water bodies.
“As we speak, there is no technocrat in the military to determine whether or not you have your license. To avoid being victims of whatever is going on, we have agreed to pack up to see what steps we might take.”
Despite increasing questions about the policy, the government has already defended the burning of confiscated excavators used for illegal mining in certain areas of the nation.
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Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, has stated that his ministry would use all means possible to combat illegal mining.
“We are demobilizing the excavators and rendering them unusable for the criminal activity in which they are engaged. What would an excavator be like on the River Pra or River Offin ? The destruction you’ve seen “just proves that exceptional times necessitate extraordinary action,” the Minister said.
The government has also stated that it is not after mining permits, but rather the illegality being perpetrated by both licensed and unlicensed miners.
SOURCE: ATLFMONLINE
