The Vice Presidential candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh, known as Napo, has stated that a future NPP government will not ban small-scale mining.
He stressed the party’s goal of empowering small-scale miners to practice responsible mining and grow their businesses.
At a campaign event in the Manso Adubia constituency in the Ashanti Region on Tuesday, Dr. Opoku Prempeh discussed the need to differentiate between regulated mining and illegal activities that harm the environment and communities.
He emphasized that the NPP will promote sustainable practices in the small-scale mining sector.
He also mentioned the commitments made by Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the NPP’s presidential candidate, to support responsible mining initiatives that will benefit local communities and the economy.
This announcement comes as Organised Labour prepares for a nationwide strike starting Thursday, October 10, 2024, due to frustrations over the government’s handling of the illegal mining issue, known as “galamsey,” which has negatively affected the environment and workers’ livelihoods.
Organised Labour has called for the government to take stronger measures against illegal mining while also supporting the formalization of the small-scale mining industry.
They believe a balanced approach is necessary to protect the environment and allow legitimate miners to work without fear of harassment or shutdowns. “A government led by Dr. Bawumia will support mining. We cannot stop mining, but we will do it responsibly. We will not mine in ways that harm our water bodies and forests. We will provide equipment for responsible mining to Ghanaians.”
