Small- scale miners call for support

Bibiani W/R, Feb. 13, GNA - The Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners, has appealed to the Ghana Minerals Commission to organise business management training programme for the miners as part of its yearly plan of action.

The Association said small scale- miners played a crucial role in boosting the national economy, stressing that in 2008, the sector produced 15 per cent of the total gold production in the country and about 100 per cent of diamond.

The members said their training should therefore be a priority to the Commission in building their capacity through technology transfer. Mr S.O. Lamptey, the National President, who was addressing a press conference at Bibiani in the Western Region, called for collaboration between the Commission, Environmental Protection Agency and Geological Survey Department to avoid the frustrations associated with the licensing process for members.

He also stressed the need for credit facilities to be made accessible t= o the members to sustain their trade and livelihood. Mr Lamptey indicated that the association was not happy about the fact that regularisation within the sector was low and attributed that to lack o= f resources. He expressed the need for the Commission to be adequately resourced to promote sanity in the sector and minimise environmental degradation. He called on government to systematically design areas to be license= d to small-scale miners and provide documents showing areas and maps to facilitate accessibility.