The Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners (GNASSM) has warned government not to politicize the vetting exercise which is set to begin this year.

A committee has been set up by government to vet and investigate small scale mining operations amidst plans to lift the ban later this year.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) led government banned the operations of both small scale and illegal mining popularly known as ‘galamsey’. The ban was necessitated as a result of the wanton destruction of the environment and an attempt to protect the natural resources.

Some Chinese nationals were reportedly engaged in the activity until a task force dubbed Operation Vanguard (OV) was tasked to apprehend persons mining in the dark.

Government has however hinted that it will vet the processes in acquiring mining license and leases in the country to ensure that not everyone is allowed to mine.

But Mr. Benjamin Annan, a National Communication team member of the association cautioned that, politicians who may be tasked to scrutinize their members should not politicize the exercise.

“We do not want anybody to destroy our water bodies and we shall not allow any politician to agree to galamsey operations”. He indicated

“This is a national issue, the resources belong to all Ghanaians, therefore we don’t have to politicize our work, for this reason the government must not joke with it.”

He expressed fears by the association that some MMDCEs may end up politicizing the whole vetting process and warned them to desist from such acts.