By Philip Tengzu
Wa (UW/R), Sept. 9, GNA – The DAAD Alumni Association has proposed policy actions for consideration to improve the management of small-scale mining and enhance its contribution to livelihoods and local economic development in Ghana.
The proposals were made at a workshop in Wa organised by the DAAD Alumni Association on the theme: “Managing Small-Scale and Artisanal Mining: A Community Mining Perspective in Northern Ghana.”
The workshop brought together members and stakeholders from across Ghana to share knowledge and explore practical approaches to improving the management of the sector.
Mr Benjamin Naah, Lead Organiser of the workshop, said small-scale mining was an important source of livelihood and contributed to local economic development, but its benefits could only be sustained if mining activities were properly managed.
He said the event was aimed at creating a platform for stakeholders to discuss the proper management of artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) to ensure environmental protection, community support and sustainable development.
The Association, therefore, suggested the formalisation of community entry processes, improved institutional effectiveness and collaboration among state agencies, and reconciliation of cadastral plans of mining companies with the spatial plans of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).
It also advocated a review of the constitutional provisions that recognised traditional ownership of land while vesting minerals in the President on behalf of the people of Ghana.
The Association said the proposals were necessary to address challenges, including inadequate knowledge among prospective miners about the acquisition of mineral rights, weak community entry procedures and limited involvement of traditional authorities in the licensing process.
Kuoro Abu Diaka Sukabe Nania V, Paramount Chief of the Zini Traditional Area, said formalising the community entry process would help enlighten communities about proposed mining activities and enable companies to understand their concerns.
He observed that early community engagement would also help establish a stronger social contract between mining operators and host communities.
Mr Prince Boateng Danso, Wa District Officer of the Minerals Commission, indicated that small-scale mining remained a major source of rural livelihoods and a key driver of economic activity in mining communities.
He, however, identified land and boundary disputes as some of the challenges confronting the sector, saying they could result in conflicts between miners over ownership and boundaries of mining concessions.
Dr Issa Baddianaah of the William V.S. Tubman University in Liberia called for effective regulation and a sustainable approach to ASM in Ghana because of its economic impact on millions of people in the country.
He said challenges such as high registration fees, delays in processing mining permits, weak enforcement and inadequate political commitment were pushing local miners into illegal operations.
He said those challenges needed to be addressed to ensure compliance with environmental and legal requirements.
Some participants who spoke to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) expressed optimism that the knowledge and recommendations generated from the workshop would be harnessed to influence policy change towards effective and sustainable small-scale mining in Ghana.
Professor Asaah Mohammed of the University of Technology and Applied Sciences (UTAS) said the initiative provided an opportunity for networking among young people across the country and beyond, which was necessary for knowledge exchange and collaborative development initiatives.
Madam Valeria Avoayea Amoro, a Planner with the Local Government Service, said the workshop had provided her with new insights into the laws and processes involved in venturing into ASM.
Mr Solomon Batamia Ndego, Assistant Programme Officer of the Environmental Protection Authority, said the recommendations would help promote responsible ASM and strengthen environmental protection.
GNA/
Edited by Audrey Dekalu
Reporter: Philip Tengzu, GNA
[email protected]