Some small-scale miners are banking their hopes on the establishment of the Gold Board to promote fair pricing of gold in the country.
President of Concerned Small Scale Miners, Michael Kwadwo Peprah, says gold price disparities have negatively affected the trade.
“The foreigners were determining the price of gold. Because the PMMC were not resourced to buy the gold, we were going by the prices of the foreigners”, he said.
Mr. Peprah added, “Gold prices at Tarkwa, Kumasi and other mining areas are sometimes different. This shouldn’t continue.”
He wants the government to ensure the objectives of the Gold Board are clearly codified in the Act establishing the Board.
The Precious Mineral Marketing Company tasked with the establishment of the Gold Board is on a tour of mining communities, engaging miners.
The Gold Board promised in the NDC manifesto, is expected to regulate the small-scale mining sector.
Though the relevance of the Board is being questioned, the government has maintained it will help restructure the small-scale mining sector.
President of Concerned Small Scale Miners, Michael Kwadwo Peprah, is confident the small scale mining industry will be the ultimate beneficiary.
“The Gold Board will benefit small scale miners. Let no one deceive you, the idea to have a Gold Board was conceived by Small Scale Miners so the government is actually implementing our idea”, he added.
The activities of illegal miners continue to destroy the environment.
As a campaign promise, the government committed to sanitizing the system and restoring the environment.
Mr. Peprah acknowledged the inclusion of miners in the government’s plans.