Stop Unlawful Seizure of Our Equipments, NCSSMA to gov’t From Ernest Best Anane, Kumasi
The National Concerned Small Scale Miners Association, Ghana, has expressed concern over recent developments affecting its members across various mining communities in the country.
In a press release issued on June 24, 2025, the Association’s president, Mr. Michael Kwabena Peprah, called for urgent public attention to what they believe is a systematic targeting of its members following the assumption of office by the ruling New Democratic Congress (NDC) in 2025.
According to the Association, it has credible reports that the government’s anti-galamsey intolerance has been engaged in unlawful activities, including the wanton seizure and destruction of excavators belonging to small-scale miners.
The press statement had it that in several instances, the excavators have been forcibly taken from lawless miners, where they were not in use, raising serious questions about the legitimacy of these actions.
According to Members, the gold mining sector, particularly small-scale mining, contributed over 1.5 tonnes of gold in 2024 alone, with a projected figure to hit 2.5 tonnes in 2025, the sector it said remains vital to Ghana’s economic growth and the association believes it actually deserves to be treated with fairness, respect and legal protection.
The statement indicated that the Association cannot condone the excesses by the BDCs, which undermine the rule of law by supporting the failed anti-galamsey strategies of the previous NPP government. Says the wanton seizure and destruction of lawfully acquired mining equipment are not sustainable solutions to the challenges facing the small-scale mining industry.
It stated that during the 2024 election campaign, the then-opposition NDC made a clear promise to support and equip small-scale miners with modern technology and skills to streamline their operations.
The association is calling on the government to honour the promise by introducing standard technological reference and upgrading building initiatives. Such reforms should also aim at empowering small-scale miners to operate responsibly, adhere to regulations, and contribute to environmental sustainability.
The Association’s demand reasonable intuitive reforms that will enable lawful, safe and environmentally sound mining.
They do not seek favours or protection for illegal operations. Instead, they advocate for a transparent and cohesive system that allows all legitimate actors in the sector to operate without fear or victimization.
The association urges the government to engage constructively with stakeholders in the small-scale mining industry and prioritize collaboration over confrontation.
The long-term development of the vital sector depends on mutual trust, policy consistency and genuine support from leadership.
