Ban On Small Scale Mining Kills 16

The Public Relations Officer of Small Scale Miners Association, Francis Poku, has disclosed that 16 of their members have died as a result of the ban placed on small scale mining in the country.

According to him, two out of the 16 committed suicide.

He disclosed this on an Accra based station, Adom FM yesterday, during an interview with Captain Smart.

Government last year, imposed a six-months ban on small scale mining in a bid to clamp down the destructive activities of illegal miners in the country.

Government has shown no sign of raising the ban.

Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Peter Amewu recently extended the ban placed on all forms of small-scale mining for the third time.

Meanwhile, the Association has pleaded with government to lift the ban.

According to Mr. Poku, the ban has caused them to lose huge sums of money, and has also affected those within the supply chain.

He said people depend on the business to make ends meet, stressing that the ban has resulted to the death of their members.

“People depend on this business to make ends meet. Some took huge sums of money from banks for their business and are now running from banks because they have no money to pay their debts due to the ban,” he said.

Mr. Poku said the Association is discouraged because their members no longer attend meetings.

“From next week going we will dislodge the Association because our members no longer attend meetings due to the ban. They don’t see the need to attend meetings,” he said.

By: Emmanuel Yeboah Britwum/ [email protected]