We will not burn your excavators if i become president – Bawumia to small-scale miners

The flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has assured small-scale miners of better treatment if he is elected president.

Speaking during a health walk by some NPP supporters in Kwahu in the Eastern Region, the presidential aspirant said his government will roll out policies that will enhance the operations of small-scale miners in Ghana.

He said confiscated excavators belonging to these miners would no longer be burnt under his presidency.

“We are going to help small-scale miners; we will introduce a mineral development bank to get money for them.

“There is a new regime for small-scale miners. We will not burn your seized excavators,” he assured.

Dr Bawumia also pledged to revamp the approach to fight illegal mining if he is elected president.

While commending the Akufo-Addo-led government’s efforts to eradicate the canker over the past seven years, he added that there was a need for a new strategy to address the issue.

As part of the government’s fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, security personnel leading the war were instructed to burn all heavy equipment at illegal mining sites, including excavators.

This directive was faced with opposition from the minority in parliament and some Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).

However, at a sod-cutting ceremony to commence a Law Village Project in Accra on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, President Nana Akufo-Addo defended the directive.

“I know there are some who believe that the ongoing exercise of ridding our water bodies and forest zones of harmful equipment and machinery is unlawful and, in some cases, harsh.

“I strongly disagree, and I would advise those who take a contrary view to go to court to vindicate their position if they so wish. That is what the rule of law is all about,” he said.

In October 2022, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, revealed that soldiers had seized 30 excavators there weeks after the relaunch of ‘Operation Halt’ to tackle galamsey.

The soldiers destroyed four and immobilized four of the excavators.

The team also destroyed 103 Changfan machines and several other machinery for galamsey during the period.