Gov’t to stop foreigners who buy gold in Ghana illegally-George Mireku Duker

Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, George Mireku Duker has urged gold buyers to desist from buying gold for foreign nationals who smuggle gold to their home countries without paying legitimate taxes to the government.
He said the activities of small-scale miners have not had much influence on them which will trickle down to the communities in which they live and operate. This is because the small-scale miners mine and sell the gold to foreigners.
Speaking at a meeting with the Gold Buyers Association of Tarkwa, Hon Duker said “The government will clamp down all foreign nationals who are involved in these illicit activities”.
He said the Minerals and Mining Act 703 permits only Ghanaians to engage in small-scale mining activities, but the sale of gold in the country is done by most foreign nationals who smuggle the gold without paying legitimate taxes to the government.
“Government wants Ghanaians to buy the gold produced by small-scale miners so that it will inure to the benefit of Ghanaians and not for a foreigner who doesn’t have a license”, he added.
He stressed that “you should not condone and connive with foreign nations to buy gold unlawfully”
To this end, he said, the government will build the capacities of individuals to acquire the needed license to buy gold independently.
He explained that the establishment of the Precious Mineral Marketing Company (PMMC) in Tarkwa will help build their capacity to be able to be grounded in the gold-buying business in Ghana.
Hon Duker expressed worry about the use of mercury in gold processing by small-scale miners in Tarkwa.
He noted that “if care is not taken the next generation will suffer severe illness because people are smelting gold with mercury in town which is not good for the health of mankind”
To help deal with that situation, the deputy minister said “We are developing a technology that could smelt gold without the use of mercury”.
He explained that similar meetings will be held in all mining regions to address these issues which will ensure the benefit of all Ghanaians.
The Chairman of the Tarkwa Gold Buyers Association, Alhaji Sulemanu Dauda on behalf of the association thanked the deputy minister for the education and gave the assurance that members will comply with it in order to ensure a smooth operation of their business.