Government lifts ban on small-scale mining

Government will on Monday, 17th December, 2018 lift the ban on small scale mining in the country to allow licensed and vetted small-scale miners  return to their concessions and resume operations.

The government has, therefore, outdoored a new policy framework to regularise and reform the sector.

The policy framework was put together by the Inter-ministerial committee on illegal mining (IMCIM).

Speaking at the lunch of the policy framework, Chairman of the IMCIM  and Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Professor Frimpong Boateng said the lifting of the ban allows individuals with mining licences and valid Tax Identification Numbers (TIN) whose concessions have been validated and given card with QR codes to show that they have been vetted, to go back to work.

Professor Frimpong Boateng said, among the new policy framework to regularize the sector includes:

1.        Putting all illegal miners together as community mining group to be registered and given training and mine as a small scale mining company.

2.        Mining equipment, especially excavators and bulldozers will be licenced by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA).

3.        Special drones will be used to monitor the activities these small scale miners and also help operation vangured to make sure galamsey never returns.

4.        Boats will also be deployed on our rivers to make sure activities of these small scale miners does not affect the river bodies.

5.        Excavators and bulldozers will be tagged with electronic monitoring devices by approved agents, before given permission to engage in mining.

Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng added that, the process of validation is still ongoing and Ghanaians who wish to participate in small-scale mining can submit their documents to the relevant authorities and abide by the new regulations outlined to ensure sustainable forms of mining to prevent environmental degradation.

He added that, lifting the ban on small scale mining does not mean galamsey has returned.

Ghana | Atinkaoanline.com | Ishmael Atiemo

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