Ashanti GNASSM Boss Urges Calm, Dialogue After Bonteso Mining Clash
The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners (GNASSM), Mr. Frank Osei, also known as Denero, has appealed for calm and constructive engagement between state authorities and miners following violent confrontations at Bonteso in the Ashanti Region.
The disturbances, which involved a police task force and community members, reportedly led to arrests and alleged fatalities, sparking widespread concern.
During a solidarity visit to the town, Mr. Osei called for an immediate suspension of forceful operations and urged government agencies to rather adopt dialogue and education as a means of resolving challenges in the mining sector.
“We admit that mistakes happen in our operations, but the manner in which they are being handled is not right. What we need is proper dialogue and training so that reclamation is done consistently after mining,” he said.
He stressed that small-scale mining remains one of the few opportunities available to Ghanaian youth and should therefore be managed with policies that create sustainable livelihoods instead of confrontations.
“We have only one Ghana. Too many young people are leaving for Libya and other countries because of hardship. Mining offers jobs and hope. If there are problems, they should be corrected through good policies, not gun attacks,” he added.
The GNASSM chairman further expressed disappointment over what he described as a deliberate attempt to criminalize Ghanaian miners while others are shielded.
“It is unfair to brand us as criminals. We are not criminals. What we need is fairness and proper regulation,” he stated.
Mr. Osei reaffirmed the Association’s commitment to work hand-in-hand with government and stakeholders to promote responsible mining practices across the country.
