A policy think tank, Ghana Growth and Development Platform (GGDP), has advocated for the legalization of Small-scale mining whiles equally urging authorities to  take steps to control its bad effects on the environment.

The GGDP argues  that small scale mining, also knowns as "galamsey" in Ghana, is an economic response to the high demand for gold hence its employment, income and foreign exchange effect on the Ghanaian economy must not be overlooked.

Speaking at a news conference on Thursday,to launch a paper which contains a comprehensive findings on small scale mining in the country, the lead author of GGDP, Kwamena Essilfie Adjaye enumerated the need to formalise the activities of  small-scale mining to the advantage of the nation.

"We are asking for swift action to legalize ,advise and assist small scale mining and galamsey miners to formalize their operations, considering its employment, income and foreign exchange effect on the Ghanaian economy", he said.

"We are equally of the view that urgent, and direct steps must be taken to control, supervise and monitor their activities in order to prevent environmental degradation."

He bemoaned the takeover of small scale mining by foreigners and and tasked Government to do more to ensure the small-scale mining industry is reserved for Ghanaians only.

"Small scale mining and galamsey should remain Ghanaian owned and operated,with employment being created in the communities, income being in the communities and foreign exchange earnings remaining in Ghana and in the communities to finance national and local economic development."

The Government in 2013 inaugurated interministerial task force to fight  galamsey and the fight was reignited this year, a move that has seen seizures and burning of some machines of small scale miners.

In May this year,  Police and Anti Illegal Mining Joint Task Force of the Small Scale Miners Association in the Ashanti region  raided three mining communities in the Atwima Mponua District to stop “galamseyers.”

However, GGDP believes Government must take a different approach in dealing with miners as their engagement in the activities is largely caused by the rippling effects of unemployment.

It urged Government to undertake alternative livelihood programs as another step to reduce poverty and encourage local economic development in mining communities.

The Ghana Growth and Development Platform (GGDP) is a group with the aim of  advocating for pro-growth and pro-development policies, programs and projects by the government, the parliament, the private sector, civil society, the cooperative sector, and the international community.

By Fiifi Abdul Malik/ghanaguardian.com