Burkina/Artisan Miner Day: More than 500 participants expected from July 21 to 22 in Gaoua

The Ministry of Energy, Mines and Quarries announced on Thursday the holding of the 2nd of Artisan Mining Day (JAM) scheduled for July 21-22. in Gaoua (South-West) which will bring together more than 500 participants to reflect on the challenges related to the supervision of artisanal gold mining.

“Today’s meeting aims to announce to the men and women of the press, the holding of the 2nd of the Artisan Miner’s Day, called JAM, on July 21 and 22, 2023 in Gaoua, in the province of Poni, in the South-West region”, affirmed the president of the National Organizing Committee (NOC) Jean-Baptiste Kaboré.

He indicated that this second meeting of mining artisans is held under the high patronage of the President of the Transition, Captain Ibrahim Traoré and it will bring together more than 500 participants.

Mr. Kaboré was Thursday in Ouagadougou in front of journalists to talk about the organization of the 2nd of the JAM, scheduled in Gaoua from July 21 to 22, 2023, in the South West region.

The 2nd edition of the JAM is placed under the theme ” Artisanal mining: what mechanisms for the formalization of operators, in order to improve the socio-economic benefits of the sector?” “.

These Days will reflect on the organization and promotion of good practices in the mining sector, said Mr. Kaboré.

The President of the NOC and Secretary General (SG) of the Ministry in charge of Mines specified that according to a study carried out in 2018, Burkina Faso has to date recorded more than 600 active gold panning sites with more than one million people living of the activity.

Jean-Baptiste Kaboré pointed out that in recent years, efforts have been made by the government to better supervise artisanal miners, but difficulties still persist in respecting the regulations.

For him, this activity requires greater attention from the authorities and all stakeholders, so that mines are not a source of financing for terrorists, in this context of insecurity.

“The JAM, which is organized together with organizations of artisanal miners, technical and financial partners and NGOs working in the field, aims to bring about positive changes in the exploitation of artisanal sites in order to have a sector organized and responsible artisanal mining,” he said.

Mr. Kaboré also indicated that the 48 hours of reflection in Gaoua will allow, among other things, to debate on the central theme, the formalization of artisanal mining, the prevention of conflicts between industrial companies and artisanal miners, exhibition spaces and B to B meetings.

The SG of the department in charge of mines indicated that the recommendations resulting from the meeting will make it possible to better supervise artisanal gold panning confronted with landslide and other problems.

As a reminder, the first edition of the JAM was initiated in 2022 in Ouagadougou, by the State of Burkina Faso through the Department of Mines to promote good practices in gold panning.

Source: Burkina Information Agency