Dr Ekua Amoakoh, spokesperson for NPP flagbearer Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of opposing the formalisation of small-scale mining while in opposition but defending the approach after returning to power.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s The Big Issue on Saturday, October 24, Dr Amoakoh said the NPP had advocated licensing unlicensed small-scale miners, training them in responsible mining practices and regulating their operations to reduce environmental damage.
Her comments follow controversy over remarks by Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) Chief Executive Officer Sammy Gyamfi on efforts to bring unlicensed small-scale miners into the formal sector.
Dr Amoakoh said the NPP had pursued formalisation because years of relying on arrests and security operations had failed to adequately address illegal mining.
“What is wrong is that, that was the position of the NPP; that we have tried to fight this matter with guns and police and we’ve done this for years and it doesn’t seem to be working and we’ve come to the realisation that the only way to deal with this is to regularise it, help the people do it in a decent manner so that it doesn’t affect water bodies and it doesn’t cause too much harm to us and then we can exploit the natural resources that have been bestowed on us by God.
“That was the position of the NPP. When the NDC was in opposition, they said no, that was almost an abomination to them. In fact they sought to blur the lines between illegal and legal small-scale mining,” she said.
She argued that the NPP’s proposal involved more than allowing unlicensed miners to operate, as it included training, simplified licensing procedures and a regulatory framework for their activities.
Dr Amoakoh said the current debate highlighted the need for consistency in political parties’ positions on illegal mining, accusing the NDC of rejecting an approach in opposition that it was now defending in government.
