The National Concerned Small-Scale Miners Association, Ghana, has thrown its support behind the government’s proposed Responsible Cooperative Mining Scheme, challenging the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to present a workable alternative to formalising unlicensed small-scale mining activities.
In a statement, the association described the initiative as a practical and potentially sustainable way to address illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, arguing that enforcement operations alone have failed to eliminate the persistent problem.
The association maintained that bringing miners into the formal economy would strengthen regulatory oversight, improve compliance with mining laws and create opportunities to reduce environmental damage.
“Our position is simple; if NPP disagrees with this approach, the party must tell Ghanaians what better alternative it proposes,” the statement said.
It added that “it is not enough to criticise a policy without presenting a workable solution to a problem that continues to affect our communities, forests and water bodies.”
The association argued that Ghana’s long-standing reliance on security operations has not produced the desired results in the fight against illegal mining.
It cited interventions such as Operation Vanguard and GalamStop as examples of enforcement-based approaches that, in its view, have failed to bring the galamsey menace under control.
“Ghana cannot continue to rely on the same enforcement methods and expect different results,” the statement said.
The association estimated that nearly US$500 million was spent on the previous administration’s anti-galamsey efforts without achieving the desired outcome. The figure was presented as the association’s estimate and was not independently verified in the statement.
It stressed, however, that its support for formalisation should not be interpreted as opposition to law enforcement.
“To be clear, we are not asking the government to abandon law enforcement. Anyone who violates the law must be held accountable,” it stated.
The association instead called for a balanced approach that combines enforcement with accessible legal pathways, effective regulation and opportunities for miners to operate within the law.
The association said the proposed Responsible Cooperative Mining Scheme could complement Ghana’s existing small-scale mining licensing framework by creating a structured route for unlicensed operators to regularise their activities.
It traced the country’s efforts to regulate small-scale mining to the 1989 PNDC-era legislation, noting that the existing licensing system had not succeeded in bringing every miner into the formal sector.
According to the association, many young Ghanaians depend on small-scale mining for their livelihoods, making it necessary to address the economic realities behind the continued prevalence of unlicensed operations.
“Rather than treating every miner as a criminal, we must create a system that allows those who are willing to operate responsibly to do so legally,” the statement said.
It argued that a properly implemented formalisation programme could improve government monitoring, strengthen environmental compliance, create employment opportunities and increase accountability across the sector.
The association nevertheless maintained that formalisation must not provide cover for unlawful mining or activities in prohibited areas.
The statement repeatedly challenged the NPP to explain how its preferred approach would achieve better results than the proposed cooperative scheme.
“If the NPP opposes the GoldBod-backed initiative, Ghanaians deserve to know what practical measures the party proposes to bring miners into the legal framework, regulate their activities and protect the environment,” it said.
The association also questioned whether opposition to the initiative could lead to renewed reliance on coercive enforcement methods.
“Is the NPP, out of political expediency, pressuring the government to deploy the coercive machinery of the state against miners when formalisation offers a more constructive and potentially sustainable alternative?” it asked.
The statement called on the opposition party to distinguish between legitimate concerns about the scheme’s implementation and political opposition that does not offer practical solutions.
The association’s position is that any credible anti-galamsey strategy must address the reasons miners remain outside the formal regulatory system while ensuring that those who break the law face appropriate consequences.
Despite its support for the initiative, the association acknowledged the serious environmental consequences associated with illegal mining, particularly the destruction of forests and pollution of water bodies.
It also raised concerns over allegations that approximately 47 forest reserves had been opened to mining activities under the previous NPP administration.
The claim was presented in the association’s statement and was not independently established in the document.
The association called for the protection of forest reserves and other environmentally sensitive areas, insisting that cooperative mining arrangements must comply with existing laws and environmental requirements.
“Our position is clear; formalisation must never become a licence to mine in prohibited areas or destroy the environment,” it said.
It added that responsible mining and environmental protection must go hand in hand.
The association also questioned whether the proposed GoldBod-backed initiative offered a stronger regulatory framework than aspects of the previous administration’s community mining programme, particularly where adequate safeguards were allegedly lacking.
The association said lessons must be drawn from the implementation of earlier community mining schemes introduced under the previous NPP administration.
It alleged that some of those schemes became politicised and failed to deliver their intended benefits to Ghanaian miners and local communities.
It further raised concerns over allegations that some schemes benefited foreign operators, including Chinese nationals, instead of prioritising Ghanaian miners.
The statement called for transparent eligibility criteria, effective monitoring and accountability under the new scheme to prevent political patronage and the exploitation of mineral resources.
It said the success of the proposed initiative should be measured by its ability to regularise mining, protect the environment, provide sustainable livelihoods and ensure compliance with the law.
“Announcing a scheme is not enough. What matters is how it works on the ground, how fairly it treats miners and how effectively it protects our natural resources,” the association stated.
The National Concerned Small-Scale Miners Association urged the government to implement the Responsible Cooperative Mining Scheme fairly, with strict environmental safeguards and effective sanctions against operators who violate mining regulations.
It also called on small-scale miners to adopt responsible practices and recognise that the long-term survival of the sector depends on environmental protection and compliance with the law.
The association concluded that Ghana needed to move beyond approaches that had repeatedly failed to deliver lasting results.
It maintained that formalisation, responsible mining, effective monitoring and environmental protection could help build a sector that creates jobs, supports livelihoods and contributes to national development.
The NPP has been challenged by the association to state clearly what alternative it proposes for addressing illegal mining and protecting Ghana’s natural resources.
The positions, allegations and estimates in this report are attributed to the National Concerned Small-Scale Miners Association, Ghana, as presented in its statement.
