Former Vice President and 2028 flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has engaged the Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners (GNASSM) as part of consultations on policies for the mining sector ahead of the 2028 general elections.

At the engagement, Dr Bawumia indicated that concerns raised by small-scale miners would inform the mining component of his 2028 manifesto, signalling his intention to involve industry stakeholders in shaping the NPP’s policy direction for the sector.

He said the views and experiences of the Association were critical to the formulation of practical policies for small-scale mining and urged the miners to help identify the challenges confronting responsible operators in the industry.

Dr Bawumia also used the engagement to explain the growing national attention on Ghana’s gold industry. He pointed to the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme as one of the policy initiatives that had brought gold-related issues into sharper focus.

According to him, the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme, which he described as a novel policy, has subsequently evolved into the operations of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod).

The former Vice President said developments in the gold sector had generated considerable public interest in how Ghana manages its mineral resources, the role of the state in gold trading and the benefits that should accrue to the country from its gold wealth.

He also identified illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, as one of the major issues drawing public attention to the mining sector.

Dr Bawumia, however, cautioned against placing responsible small-scale miners and illegal miners in the same category.

“Responsible small-scale miners are not the same as illegal miners,” he said.

He said the distinction was important in developing policies that support legitimate small-scale mining while addressing activities that undermine the environment and violate the country’s mining regulations.

Dr Bawumia subsequently sought GNASSM’s support and input in addressing the challenges facing the sector, assuring the Association that many of the concerns raised could be resolved with the necessary political will.

He urged the miners to continue engaging with policymakers and providing practical input on the challenges confronting their businesses, stressing that their concerns could be addressed if there was a commitment to implementing the necessary measures.

The engagement forms part of Dr Bawumia’s consultations with stakeholders as the NPP prepares its policy proposals ahead of the 2028 general elections.