Miners Angry Over Long Ban

THE Small-Scale Miners Association of Ghana (SMAG) has expressed dismay over government’s decision to continue its ban on their operations in the country.

They lamented that the continual imposition of the ban had made them very poor as many of them are now struggling to cater for themselves and their family members.

The miners have therefore appealed passionately to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to lift the ban as a matter of urgency since they had permits to legally mine for gold in the country.

Speaking at a press conference in Kumasi, Mike Gizo, an Executive Member of the Small-scale Miners Association, lamented that the ban was adversely affecting members in many ways.

He said charges on loans that they had secured from financial institutions to support their businesses was rising at a fast pace, stressing the need for government to lift the ban without any further delay.

He found it ironical that SMAG, which first started the fight against illegal mining in the country, had suddenly become victims of a crusade that they initiated.

Mike Gizo stated that if government continues with the ban, most of their members, who are patriotic citizens of the land, would die before their time.

By: Afia Sarpong Amankwa/ thePublisher