NDC Government Will Combat Galamsey With Cooperative Mining Approach – Kwadwo Peprah Reveals

The NDC Campaign Committee on Mining has called on miners in the Ashanti Region to support the party’s flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, to ensure the development of a robust and sustainable mining sector.

Speaking at community engagements in Manso Akwasiso and Manso Adubia, Michael Kwadwo Peprah, a member of the committee and President of the Small Scale Miners Association of Ghana, criticised the current state of the mining sector under the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia administration. He stressed the need for policies to sanitise and sustain the sector, assuring miners that the NDC has a clear plan to address their concerns.

According to Peprah, the next NDC government will decentralise the licensing process and promote cooperative mining to address challenges facing small-scale miners.

“We understand the struggles you face. Under an NDC government, we will encourage cooperative mining to remove the bottlenecks hindering your progress,” he said.

He explained that cooperative mining would allow groups of miners to come together, form cooperatives, and apply for licenses to operate efficiently.

“Small-scale mining is a key source of employment for the youth. By decentralising licensing and supporting cooperative efforts, we will make the process smoother and more effective for miners with the necessary documentation,” he added.

The NDC Manifesto Committee on Mining has been engaging miners in several Ashanti Region communities, including Manso Watreso, Subin, Antoakrom, Datano, and Tontokrom.

The team, led by Dr. Tony Aubynn, former CEO of the Ghana Minerals Commission, aims to gather feedback and outline the NDC’s vision for a revitalised mining sector.