The desire and possibility of having access to quick money every week has led some children of Esase Bontefufuo, a predominant farming and mining community within the Atwima Nwabiagya District of the Ashanti Region, to engage in illegal smallscale mining, known locally as “Galamsey” in order to make a comfortable living for themselves and to some extent, their families.

To most these children between the ages of 9 and 15, school vacation periods are God-sent, as they are able to earn an average of 30 Ghana Cedis a week from their illegal mining escapades under the tutelage of adults who serve as their “masters”. On a visit to the community with a rocky topography over the weekend, the Daily Express reporter, spotted several young children returning from their “galamsey” sites, holding some improvised and crude tools such as shovels, meshes and pickaxes used for their minimining activities.

Others in the company of adults were also spotted returning with rock chippings which they said they were going to treat with mercury to extract the precious mineral from them. Upon interaction, some of the children who claimed there were on school vacation, said they use the money they generate from their mining adventures to buy books and other things they will need when school reopens. In one instance Kwaku Marfo, a 15 year old JHS 2 student of the Esase Bontefuo JHS, said though hectic, he is able to provide for himself through the “galamsey”.

He explained that he joins his “master” to mine anytime school is on recess and that enables him to fend for himself during the school periods. “There is money in it. I am able to save and buy some shoes, food, clothes and books for myself in school. Sometimes if there are excursions, I use some of the money to pay”, the dirty and tired-looking 15 year old Kwaku said. He narrated that both of his parents are in Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional capital seeking greener pastures, compelling him to live with his grandmother in the village.

He answered in the affirmative when asked if the grandmother was aware of his mining activities, noting that he is not the only one in it as several of his climates are also doing same. Even though these children seem to be aware of the dangers associated with the practice at their tender age, motivated by the extravagant lifestyles of some lucky adults in the community who have hit jackpots from the illegal mining, they believe their risk will pay off in the end, so stopping is not an option for them.

“It is it is lucrative, the big motorbikes in the town are bought with monies from the galamsey and I know I will also be lucky one day”, another young miner said. Some of the adults or so called “masters” engaged in the practice declined to be interviewed, fearing that our reporter was a member of the government’s illegal mining taskforce sent to investigate them.

However, speaking to the paper, an elder in the community who declined to be identified posited that some of the children have abandoned school because of the illegal mining activities and their guardians are unable to prevent them from continuing. “It is very disturbing that at this age, their priority is to make quick money; what is worrying is that their so called masters and guardians see nothing wrong with that”, he lamented, adding that there is a need for parents and children in the area to be educated on the dangers.

The Daily Express further learnt that illegal mining is very common in the area and as such most of the youth in the community prefer competing for gold with a licensed mining company; Keegan Resources Incorporated which has acquired the largest mining concession in the community.

The crave for the precious metal, the paper was told has led to a couple of clashes between the locals and Keegan Resources Incorporated as well as several casualties from mining related accidents. However, these minors are for now unperturbed about such developments as they focus firmly on their ultimate goals of hitting the jackpot in the near future.

dailyexpressonline.com