At the recently ended National Consultative Dialogue on Artisanal and Small Scale Mining (ASM) in Accra, Ghana, Commodity Monitor Limited had a unique opportunity to introduce its mercury-free, efficient mineral processing technology to the President of Ghana Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Under the theme ‘Sustainable Small Scale Mining for National Development‘, the dialogue held on 14th-15th April 2021 brought together diverse actors in the mining sector including the state, parliament, diplomatic corps, industry players, political parties, traditional authorities, bankers and civil society organizations and academia, among others.
Commodity Monitor Limited, a commodity trading, logistics, and research company based in Accra, has rolled out the first-ever successful mercury-free mining equipment that efficiently recover more gold for artisanal and small-scale miners in Ghana without using any chemical like mercury and without polluting river bodies. This technology was showcased at the ASM Dialogue, where the president and Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Samuel Abu Jinapor were present.
“This technology holds immense potential to change the way artisanal and small scale mining is done in Ghana”, said Stephen Yeboah, CEO, Commodity Monitor, adding that “the menace of illegal mining [galamsey] can be stopped if the country adopts an efficient, chemical-free processing technology”. “This intervention which we have introduced strongly aligns with the government’s intention to end the scourge of galamsey and particularly roll out community mining schemes”.
The uncontrolled use and exposure to mercury by artisanal and small scale miners is a major but largely neglected global health problem. Illegal ASM activities have assumed a national security phenomenon as key water sources are being destroyed. In view of these difficulties that irresponsible ASM brings, the introduction of efficient and cleaner technologies is at present the best solution for developing environmentally acceptable ASM activities. Commodity Monitor’s intervention is aimed remedying this situation.
Commodity Monitor Limited is keen to engage the State to implement the Multilateral Mining Integrated Project (MMIP) and community-based mining to improve the management of artisanal small-scale mining in Ghana to ensure that its contribution to socio-economic development is felt within communities through sustainable mining practices. The government is tackling the costly environmental destruction under the MMIP.
The MMIP combines a “Legislation, Enforcement, Civil, Integrated and Technological Approach (LECITA)” as a sustainable and structured but regimented conjoint concept which will encompass multi-stakeholders in dealing with the illegal mining menace.[1] This intervention has a potential to end alluvial mining on the Pra, Birim, Ankobra rivers as well as the extensive contamination of water bodies. Sustainability is a defining element of the mercury-free mineral processing technology.
[1] Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources. 2017. MMIP Project Appraisal and Implementation Document.
