The Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners has announced plans to form a political party.
The move, according to the Chairman for the small scale miners, Nana Biribiba Boateng is to fiercely challenge the main political parties in the country.
He said small scale miners in the country are unhappy about government’s decision to extend the ban on small-scale mining by three more month hence the decision to champion their cause.
The government through the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, John Peter Amewu, announced the extension of the of the temporary ban which seeks to allow water bodies and lands that have been destroyed as a result of mining to be regenerated.
The miners have on various occasions appealed with government to end the ban which they claim is negatively affecting their livelihood.
Some miners in the Ashanti Region subsequently embarked on a demonstration to press home their demand.
Reacting to the issue, Nana Biribiba Boateng said the ban is just to collapse their businesses.
He could not fathom why the large scale mining companies are still operating when in fact they all engage in the same trade.
“Government is taking us for granted and has allowed its decision to affect us negatively. It’s about time they hear us else we would be forced to form our own political party with our huge members because any political party that comes to power does not support us” he said on Accra based Okay FM.
He questioned what government had done so far during the six months it barred small scale miners from operating.
Nana Biribiba Boateng said they have regretted voting the New Patriotic Party (NPP) thus have advised themselves ahead of the 2020 general elections.
The small scale miners have therefore given government two week ultimatum to rescind its decision or face their wrath.
“Nana Addo should talk to his minister Amewu to settle the issue because already small scale miners have regretted voting for the NPP and that is why we want to form our own political party to also have a say in the country” he stressed.
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