The Mining Committee of the National Democratic Congress(NDC) is alleging the infiltration of the Community Mining Scheme by foreign nationals defeating the purpose of establishment.
Recent visits to these sites by the committee have revealed politicisation of the scheme.
Member of the NDC Mining Committee, Michael Kwadwo Peprah explains, “the Chinese are everywhere, and they control these community mining sites.”
The NDC manifesto is promising a new order where locals will be prioritized in the small-scale mining sector.
The Small Scale and Community Mining Scheme introduced by the present NPP administration aimed at sanitizing the small-scale mining sector.
It was introduced in all of the country’s mining regions with locals being direct beneficiaries.
But some miners are alleging foreign nationals continue to play active roles under the scheme.
If the NDC is successful to win the upcoming election, there is a manifesto promise to implement policies that will ensure growth of the small-scale mining industry and ensure the protection of the environment.
The manifesto emphasized the next government will, “Promote sustainable SSM as a profitable and responsible business especially for young people by enforcing regulations and applying state-of-the-art technology, including AI, to track all excavators and geo-fence all SSM concessions in Ghana.”
The team has also bemoaned the challenges of goldsmiths and jewelry producers in these communities.
Member of the Committee, Mr. Samuel Hadjor says, “we will work with industry stakeholders to revamp the local goldsmithing and jewellery subsector to increase value addition and global competitiveness.”
The NDC team has so far visited some mining communities in Ashanti, Central and the Western Region.
They are optimistic of the party’s fortunes in mining communities.
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