Ghana’s President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said his government will not relent in its fight against the illegal mining menace in the country.
He said the government will continue to fight illegal mining with the support of the security agencies.
Akufo-Addo said the government is determined to promote responsible small-scale mining through Community Mining Schemes.
The president also acknowledged that the use of the “Gold Katcha” machines in the country has greatly promoted responsible mining.
Addressing Parliament on Wednesday (8 March) in his 2023 State of the Nation Address, Akufo-Addo said, “Mr Speaker, we continue the fight against galamsey with the support of the security agencies, in the short-term. However, we are determined to promote responsible small-scale mining through Community Mining Schemes.”
“So far, 16 of these schemes have been commissioned, with three more to be commissioned by the end of this year. All these schemes are supported with Gold Katchas…”
Gold Katchas are pieces of equipment designed to help small-scale miners to extract gold from the ore without the use of mercury.
The mercury-free mining equipment efficiently recovers more gold for artisanal and small-scale miners in Ghana without using any chemicals like mercury and without polluting river bodies.
The objective of the roll-out of the Gold Katcha is to assist small and large-scale miners with efficient mining plants and equipment that achieve three basic goals and these are high tonnes per hour processing, mercury-free recovery and high gold recovery.
On Monday 6 June 2022, President Akufo-Addo commissioned 100 Mercury-Free Mineral Processing Plants (Gold Kacha) for artisanal and small-scale miners in the country.
Commodity Monitor, an extractive solutions provider introduced the new mercury-free machine into the Ghanaian mining sector.
“Gold Katcha” is a game-changer
However, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor had earlier noted that the use of the “Gold Katcha” machines will be a game-changer in the country’s small-scale mining sector.
“On Monday the president commissioned some mercury-free gold processing equipment which points to the fact that much is being done to protect our environment, ” Jinapor said.
“This mercury-free gold processing equipment [being procured] is a game-changer that will positively impact our environment,” he added.
