The Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners (GNASSM) in the Ashanti Region has issued a strong caution to the government over what they describe as unlawful military-style operations on legally acquired mining sites.
The association alleges that some fully armed men, purporting to be National Security officers, have been storming their sites, extorting large sums of money, and physically assaulting miners.
Speaking at a press conference in Kumasi, Chairman of GNASSM, at the Konongo local, Alhaji Abdul Mumuni Mahama, revealed that these individuals, dressed in military uniforms, often arrive in Land Cruisers and demand huge sums from miners while leaving illegal miners untouched.
“They come in armed, claiming that their party is in power, so they have to ‘chop,’ and in some cases, they extort as much as GHC 200,000 from our members,” they stated. “These people even go to the extent of shooting at miners, leading to injuries.”
According to him, the association has received multiple complaints from its members across the Ashanti Region, who have encountered these unauthorized operations on at least four to five occasions.
On his part, Kwaku Abone, the association’s chairman of the Amansie South said upon seeking clarification from their superiors, they were informed that no such operations had been sanctioned.
The association is now warning of possible unrest if these illegal actions continue.
“Some of our members have told us that if these unlawful operations happen again, they will retaliate,” they cautioned.
“We are drawing the attention of the President and, especially, the Ashanti Regional Minister to be wide awake and ensure that these people are brought to order before the situation escalates.”
GNASSM is calling on the government to investigate and take immediate action against these alleged security operatives, stressing that failure to do so could result in chaos and disrupt the country’s efforts to regulate the mining sector effectively.
Story by Bismark Mensah@A/R.