The Ashanti Regional branch of the Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners (GNASSM) is calling on government to urgently address rising cases of harassment and extortion against its members, warning that the continued abuse by individuals posing as security operatives threatens the sustainability of the government’s ambitious ‘Goldbod’ initiative.
Speaking at a press conference in Kumasi, GNASSM Ashanti Secretary, Mr. Michael Adu Gyamfi, emphasized that the success of the Goldbod programme—which aims to formalize and regulate small-scale mining in Ghana—was directly tied to ensuring a secure and enabling environment for licensed miners.
“We cannot build a sustainable mining future if our members are constantly harassed and extorted,” Mr. Adu Gyamfi said. “The Goldbod initiative will fail unless the government protects legitimate miners with the same urgency and seriousness as it does cocoa farmers under COCOBOD.”
Mr. Adu Gyamfi accused some individuals, allegedly operating under the guise of national security, of engaging in acts of intimidation and illegal financial demands from law-abiding small-scale miners. He stressed that these actions discourage participation in formalized mining schemes and undermine the government’s own reforms.
“The people being targeted are not the galamsey operators destroying our environment. They are licensed miners complying with regulations,” he added.
While reaffirming the association’s support for the fight against illegal mining, Mr. Adu Gyamfi said the current situation blurs the lines between enforcement and exploitation. He called for immediate investigations into the actions of rogue operatives, as well as clear guidelines to distinguish legitimate enforcement from abuse of power.
GNASSM says small-scale miners, when properly supported, can contribute significantly to national revenue and job creation, but this potential is being eroded by unchecked harassment.
“This is not just about protecting miners—it’s about securing the future of a national programme. If people begin to withdraw from Goldbod out of fear and frustration, then we all lose,” he stated.
The group is urging the government to adopt a holistic approach to mining governance—one that includes legal reform, stakeholder education, and robust protection mechanisms for those willing to operate within the law.
As tensions rise within the mining communities, the call from GNASSM is clear: Without security, there can be no sustainability in Ghana’s mining sector.
