Small-scale miners blame delays in mining licences for rise in galamsey
Small-scale miners in the Ahafo Region have blamed delays in the issuance of mining licences on the government for pushing some prospective miners into illegal mining. The miners say the lengthy licensing process makes it difficult for people willing to operate responsibly to obtain the necessary authorisation to undertake their activities legally. Speaking on behalf […]
Small-scale miners in Ghana's Ahafo Region have criticized government delays in issuing mining licences, arguing that the lengthy process is pushing prospective miners towards illegal mining, or "galamsey." At a mining forum organized by the Nature and Development Foundation, Derrick Boateng, speaking on behalf of the miners, called for a faster licensing process to discourage illegal activities and encourage responsible operations.
Boateng emphasized that timely licensing would incentivize legal mining practices over unregulated practices. He also urged the government to keep politics out of the Responsible Cooperative Mining Programme, noting that the previous government's initiative became overly politicized and ultimately failed. Boateng urged the current administration to learn from past mistakes and ensure the program is implemented effectively to curb galamsey and support responsible mining.
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