Former Vice President and New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer for the 2028 general elections, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has engaged the Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners (GNASSM) as part of consultations to shape the party’s future policies for the mining sector.
The engagement provided an opportunity for small-scale miners to share their concerns and experiences, with Dr Bawumia indicating that their input would contribute to the mining component of the NPP’s 2028 manifesto.
He said the views of operators in the sector were important to developing practical policies for small-scale mining and urged the association to identify the major challenges facing miners who operate within the law.
Dr Bawumia also discussed the increasing national interest in Ghana’s gold industry, pointing to the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme as one of the initiatives that had brought greater attention to the country’s management of gold resources.
According to him, the programme, which he described as a novel policy, subsequently evolved into the operations of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod).
He said developments in the gold sector had triggered wider discussions about the state’s role in gold trading, the management of Ghana’s mineral wealth and the share of benefits that should remain in the country.
Illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, was also identified as a major concern surrounding the sector.
Dr Bawumia, however, cautioned against treating licensed small-scale miners and illegal operators as the same group.
“Responsible small-scale miners are not the same as illegal miners,” he said.
He explained that maintaining this distinction would be important in designing policies that support legitimate mining businesses while taking firm action against activities that damage the environment or violate mining regulations.
The NPP flagbearer subsequently sought the support and continued input of GNASSM as he develops his policy proposals for the sector.
He assured the association that several of the concerns raised could be addressed with the necessary political will and commitment to implementation.
Dr Bawumia encouraged the miners to maintain dialogue with policymakers and continue providing practical recommendations on the difficulties confronting their businesses.
The engagement forms part of his broader stakeholder consultations as the NPP develops its policy proposals and prepares for the 2028 general elections.
