The Concerned Small-Scale Miners Association has expressed its willingness to collaborate with the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) in the fight against illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.

However, the association emphasised such collaboration would be more effective for future efforts rather than addressing the current galamsey crisis.

While the association welcomed the government's call for collaboration, it clarified no formal engagement had taken place between its members and the authorities, as previously announced by the Ministry of Information.

Reacting to the news of a supposed partnership between the GAF and small-scale miners, the President of the Concerned Small-Scale Miners Association, Mr Kwadwo Peprah, denied claims of any such collaboration involving the association's members.

Speaking on the Ghana Yensom morning show on Accra 100.5 FM, co-hosted by Otafrigya Kayire Kwesi Appea-Apreku and Odehyeeba Kofi Essuman, on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, Mr Peprah expressed concerns over the timing of the initiative.

According to Mr Peprah, the government should have implemented this collaboration much earlier.

"Why wait until now?" he questioned. Nevertheless, he acknowledged it was better late than never, adding that the move was a positive step forward, albeit not suitable for dealing with the current illegal mining menace.

Mr Peprah also noted no formal training had been provided to members of the association's task force to help in the fight against galamsey. Instead, the leadership had had to rely on the individual expertise of its members.

He further explained the primary role of the task force, established by the association, was to differentiate between legitimate small-scale miners and illegal galamsey operators.

He noted the association will continue to advocate for stronger measures to protect the industry and combat illegal mining while ensuring genuine small-scale miners were not unfairly targeted.