The government has announced the much-anticipated ban on small-scale mining, setting Monday, December 17, 2018, as the official date.

However, only small-scale miners who have had their concessions validated will be allowed to mine.

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Speaking at the launch of new policy framework for mining operations in Accra, Professor Frimpong-Boateng commended the smalls cale miners for their patience and cooperation in the fight against the menace.

“Having successfully implemented the guidelines in the roadmap, the ban has been lifted for miners who have successfully gonethrough the vetting process to go back to work within the formalized and regularized method.”

The government was compelled to issue the ban in 2017, at the time illegal mining was destroying the county’s land and water resources.

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Analysts warned that Ghana might resort to theimportation of clean water in the next two decades if the threat was not eradicated.

The small-scale miners in Ghana went through a vetting process in September as part of efforts to sanitize the country’s mining industry and ensure that persons engaged in the commercial activity do so in a responsible, environmentally-friendly and sustainable manner.

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Persons who pass the vetting will be cleared to return to the mines when the government eventually lifts its 2017 ban on all forms of small-scale mining activities.