The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Wasa East, Isaac Adjei Mensah, has claimed that all small-scale miners in Ghana are technically operating illegally, as they do not hold valid mining licenses.
According to the MP, most small-scale miners operate with prospecting licenses rather than the required mining licenses, making their activities unlawful under Ghana’s mining laws.
Speaking on Badwam on Adom TV during a discussion on illegal mining, Mr. Adjei Mensah, who also serves as Chairman of Parliament’s Roads and Transport Committee and has over a decade of experience in the mining sector, explained that a prospecting license only allows individuals or companies to explore for minerals, not extract them.
“A prospecting license only permits you to search and inform the Minerals Commission about where you intend to mine; it does not authorize you to extract minerals,” he emphasized.
He outlined that for any small-scale miner to operate legally, they must apply for a mining license through the Minerals Commission. This process involves submitting an application at the district office, publishing it in the gazette for public objections, undergoing a review process, and finally obtaining approval from the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources.
The Wasa East legislator challenged the Minerals Commission to present evidence of any small-scale miner who has been granted a valid mining license after obtaining a prospecting permit.
Mr. Adjei Mensah further noted that some small-scale miners have exploited the system by using prospecting licenses to invite Chinese investors to engage in illegal mining, exacerbating the problem of galamsey across the country.
While he does not support the cancellation of existing prospecting licenses, the MP urged the Minerals Commission to regularize operations and issue proper mining licenses to small-scale miners to ensure accountability and regulation similar to that of large-scale operators.
He also disclosed that the Chinese government has expressed readiness to assist Ghana in reclaiming lands destroyed by illegal mining activities.
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