GNASSM deploys task force to protect Ghana's rivers, highways

Daily Graphic Oct - 08 - 2024 , 09:57

The Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners (GNASSM) has bolstered its task force and monitoring units with modern machinery to combat illegal mining, known locally as galamsey, which has ravaged Ghana’s environment and water resources.

Equipped with two speedboats, enhanced personnel, and advanced techniques, the GNASSM’s task force and monitoring units now have a broadened scope to protect Ghana’s water bodies and highways.

Their primary focus is to patrol water bodies and apprehend illegal miners polluting these water sources, monitor and arrest galamseyers operating near highways, and target fabricators of dredgers used in illegal mining.

Call for government support

Addressing a press conference in Kumasi last Friday, on the theme: “Operation Save Our Waters: A Quest for Equity”, the General Secretary of GNASSM, Godwin Armah, appealed to the government for support to effectively carry out this task.

“We need support from the government in terms of personnel and logistics. The government’s trained water guards should be brought onboard for us to work together to clamp down on those mining in our water bodies,” he said.

Community-driven approach

On the sidelines of the press conference, the Vice-President of the GNASSM, Samson Wiredu, advocated a community-driven approach, that would leverage local intelligence to combat galamsey.

“Our task force and monitoring units are part of the community system. We have all the intelligence needed to clamp down on illegal mining. We know the perpetrators and are going after them.

“What we require from the government is to allow us to lead this fight and support us with security personnel and logistics in the form of patrol cars and other machinery,” he noted.

Mining in Forest Reserves

Apart from GNASSM appealing for support, the association also expressed concerns about mining in forest reserves, citing the potential irreparable damage to Ghana’s biodiversity and natural resources. Forest reserves such as Tano, Offin and Atewa Range are globally recognised for their significant biodiversity.

GNASSM, therefore, urged the government to reconsider the granting of mining licences for operations in forest reserves and enforce sanctions prescribed under the Minerals and Mining Act, Act 2006 (703) as amended.

Impact of sit-down strike

In response to Organised Labour’s planned sit-down strike beginning Thursday, GNASSM cautioned that such action would cause more harm than good to Ghana’s fragile economy.

It, therefore, called on the government to provide a credible plan to deal with the menace to help avert the strike.

“We call on the government to urgently, signal a credible way forward on the galamsey issue so as to avert the damaging effects of a general strike on our already fragile economy.

“We will plead with Organised Labour to reconsider their decision on the intended strike and work together with the government in finding lasting solutions to the challenge confronting all of us,” Mr Armah stated.

The small-scale miners’ association also appealed for a bipartisan approach in dealing with the illegal mining menace, urging that “those who are politicking with the issue for their own selfish gain should desist from it”.

GNASSM

The task force and monitoring unit of the GNASSM has played a crucial role in promoting responsible mining practices and combating illegal mining in Ghana. It has, for instance, adopted the Birim River as a pet project to showcase its commitment to the fight against galamsey. The task force and monitoring unit aim to reduce the turbidity level of the river.

Last week, the Eastern Regional arm of the GNASSM task force and monitoring unit, in collaboration with the police, arrested an illegal miner on the Birim River in Akyem Mosso in the Atiwa West District.