The National Concerned Association of Small-Scale Miners (NCASSM) has called for an independent investigation into the use of over $200 million allocated to combat illegal mining in Ghana between 2017 and 2024.
This funding, sourced from the World Bank and other international organizations, was meant to support the fight against illegal mining, locally known as galamsey. However, concerns about mismanagement and the disappearance of key resources have sparked outrage within the mining community.
Speaking to Citi News, Michael Kwadwo Peprah, President of NCASSM, highlighted alarming gaps in accountability.
“Government since 2017 has had over $200 million to fight this canker that this country has been faced with, and these monies were being mismanaged. As a matter of fact, over 50 pickups were purchased for the inter-ministerial committee against galamsey, and as we speak now, these pickups can’t be found,” Peprah stated.
He further disclosed that drones worth $2 million, intended to monitor illegal mining activities, are also unaccounted for.
“A lot of people have made a fortune out of the fight against galamsey. We cannot even say for a fact that the fight against illegal mining was a success,” he lamented.
The association has called on the government to establish an independent committee to audit the expenditure and hold those responsible for any financial mismanagement accountable.
In addition to the investigation, NCASSM urged the Minister-Designate for Lands and Natural Resources to collaborate with industry experts to ensure a sustainable approach to addressing illegal mining.
Peprah emphasized the importance of understanding the dynamics of the small-scale mining industry to effectively tackle its challenges.
“He should align himself with people who are technocrats, who understand the small-scale mining sector so that going forward, we can collaboratively resolve whatever we are going through because gold is the order of the day. If we don’t understand why people are engaging in galamsey, we will get it wrong because if you do not understand the problem, how can you resolve it?” Peprah noted.
The NCASSM’s call for accountability comes as Ghana continues to grapple with the environmental and social impacts of illegal mining, which threatens the nation’s water bodies, farmlands, and overall ecosystem.