The leadership of Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners (GNASSM) has described as wasteful expenditure the GH¢20 billion the government has quoted would be required to reclaim lands destroyed over the years due to illegal mining activities.

According to Ashanti Regional president of GNASSM, Frank Osei, a durable bulldozer bought at the cost of $200,000 can be used to reclaim a vast stretch of land for at least twenty years.

Mr. Osei, therefore, explains that the Association finds it strange to hear that government will be contracting such a huge loan to ensure about 342,000 rugby fields are repaired.

According to GNASSM, it cannot be true such an amount from the government will be needed for the reclamation, challenging the government to give their members the opportunity to undertake the exercise.

Frank Osei Mensah who spoke on Kumasi-based Abusua FM said, the move will only incur debt for the country urging the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Peter Amewu not to take loans for such an exercise.

“It cannot be true, and it is a way by the government to fleece Ghanaians”, the Ashanti Regional president of GNASSM told host of ‘Abusua Nkommo’ Kwame Adinkra.

Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Peter Amewu has revealed the land reclamation project is going to be a “huge, job opportunity”.

The minister said this to journalists who were part of an entourage visiting mining sites in the Western region.

But the leadership of Association says their members are ready to team up with the government to reclaim the lost environment at a lesser cost.