ACHIEVEMENTS

Training & Development

Signing of MoU between GNASSM and University of mines and technology and development of modules for the training and development of small scale miners also collaborated with a team of researchers from UMaT to disseminate their findings of a novel method of recovering gold without the use of mercury from concentrate (direct smelting gold concentrate) which was funded by the European Union through the mercury abetment project. The modules were used by IMCIM under the support by Government to train miners during the ban on all forms SSM.

After the signing of the MOU in 2016, the Australian Embassy supported GNASSM to sanitised and train over five hundred miners and other service provides along ASGM supply chain from all the nine (9) mining districts in Ghana

Illegal Mining

The association played a major role in relocating over four thousand six hundred (4600) illegal miners in 2016, where illegal miners invaded Anlogold Ahanti’s Concession in Obuasi after sending the Government of Ghana to the International Arbitration for Government not supporting the Company to flush out the illegal miners. In less than six weeks, all the illegal miners were relocated from the Aga’s concession.

In 2017 when the NPP Government took over, the Association’s taskforce supported Government efforts to fight against illegal mining in our river bodies and in the process over eight thousand (8000) dredgers were removed from our water bodies to which some were destroyed and others kept at the custody of the Police it costed the Association over One Million Ghana Cedis (Ghc1,000,000.00). The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources Headed by Mr. Amewu by then saw our effort and supported our taskforce with an amount of One Hundred Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHc 100,000.00) to fight illegal dredging of the Birim River in the Eastern Region. After the operations over One Thousand five Hundred (1500) dredgers removed and four hundred illegal miners were arrested and sent to the Police station. After everything, the Association presented a full account to the Ministry on One hundred thousand Ghana Cedis was used.

Women Empowerment

Women empowerment and livelihoods at mining sites and their host communities is a project that is going to address the following;

seek to the welfare of women and children in ASM
Build women entrepreneurs in ASM like their men counterparts
To demystify perception about women in mining

This will be done through advocacy by the GNASSM – Artisanal and Small Scale Women In Mining (ASWIM)

Challenges

Minable Land Form Small Scale Miners; almost 85% of minable land are in the hand of Large scale concession holders and the block out areas for small scale mining are not fairly distributed because of political interference and also Minerals Commissions systems or processes have not been adequately supported by technology.

Community Mining Scheme

This Government flagship is program is not implemented in accordance with the manual or guidelines document that were developed by the Minerals Commission in collaboration with GNASSM. This document provided detailed management of the Scheme, however due to its badly implementation by IMCIM there is no structure and DCE’s are rather leading in demarcating lands for the scheme not going through due process and hence increasing illegal mining and the degradation of the environment.
The Association which is part of the management of the scheme is not even allowed be give their input into how best manage and sustain the scheme.

Formation of Small Scale Mining Steering Committee

Through our engagement with the board of the Minerals Commission, a steering committee on Small Scale have been form and inaugurated by the Board Chairman, to bring issues of small scale mining closer to the board and also through the recommendation of the steering committee make recommendations to policies and other related issues concerning small scale mining.

Child Labour related Issues

The Association has worked on Child labour projects with the support of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) under the Caring Gold Project to identify Child Labour within the Artisanal and Small Scale Gold Mining supply chain. The Project was very successful and ILO has rated GNASSM as one of the best Implementing partners in Africa. Also, Community Child Protection Units has been formed in communities where the Projects took place: Adumenu Abegamu in the Adansi North District.

Funding of Small Scale Miners

After the Ban on all forms of mining most Licensed Miners have lost the capital because of two years of in activity, loans have accrued and the Banks are putting pressure on miners for payment and some Banks are seizing properties of miners. Some miners are even dead because of pressure and emotional issue due to their inability to pay their debts.

Enforcement of Mining Laws by GNASSM

In every Industry or Organisation, Professionals have Associations that governs the activities of its members and it is mandatory for organisations or individuals to be part these Associations before they can practice their trade or starts their activities, example is the BAR, GMA, GIFF, GNAT, GPRTU etc. This groups are supported by Government and no individual or organisations can operate without being a member. But for the Small Scale Mining (SSM) Sector any persons can start operating without joining the Association making it difficult for the Association to regulate the activities of SSM. For the country to get the full management and regulating the SSM at the grassroot level the Association needs to be empowered to function.