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Ghanaian government lifts the ban on small-scale mining
Ghana has finally lifted the ban it placed on small-scale mining in the country.
A mining site in Ghana
The lift of the ban is supposed to take effect from Monday, December 17, 2018.
The Chairman of the inter-ministerial committee on illegal mining, Prof. Frimpong Boateng made the announcement whiles outdooring government’s new policy framework on regularising and reforming mining activities in the country.
Nonetheless, only small-scale miners who have had their concessions validated will be allowed to mine.
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According to Prof. Frimpong Boateng, who doubles as the country’s Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, the committee was able to successfully implement all the strategies to curb illegal mining prior to lifting the ban.
“Having successfully implemented the strategies outlined in the road-map, the ban on small-scale mining is being lifted on Monday 17th December 2018 for miners who have gone through vetting successfully within the regularized and reformed framework?” the Minister said.
He then cautioned the small-scale miners against using equipment not officially tagged by the DVLA, as all of such equipment will be ceased.
He said, “Equipment of small-scale miners will be electronically tagged by the Drivers and Vehicles Licensing Authority [DVLA].”
The lifting of the ban follows the successful vetting of 1,350 small-scale miners out of which over 900 have now been giving licenses to operate.
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Meanwhile, the Convener of the Media Coalition against Galamsey, Mr Ken Ashigey, has said the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as Galamsey has not been won yet.
He has then urged all citizens in the country to help fight the menace.
Background
The government earlier in June 2017 imposed a six-month ban on small-scale mining as part of efforts to end illegal mining and its related activities, which adversely affected the environment, particularly water bodies and forest reserves.
The ban was however extended to end in January 2018 but remained in force until now despite numerous protests by people in the industry.
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