Hope For Small Scale Mining -Govt To Announce New Mining Policy Framework

Government will on Friday announce a new policy framework for regularizing and reforming mining activities in Ghana.

The announcement comes after twenty-one (21) months after a ban was imposed on illegal, irresponsible as well as small scale mining activities in the country.

While some have speculated a lifting of the ban, government has been quick to correct that what will be announced is a new policy framework within which the over 3,000 newly trained former galamsey operators as well as thousands more who are interested in mining can operate legally.

The ban was imposed in March 2017 when it was observed that small scale mining was being used as a cover for irresponsible mining as well as even illegal mining in many parts of the country. The practice fast led to a degradation of the environment affecting severely rivers and forest reserves. In some cases it even led to a contamination of agricultural products as a result of the absorption of dangerous chemicals used.

Upon institution of the ban, a security operation known as Operation Vanguard was launched to enforce the ban. The operation comprising military and police men and officers has largely been successful in containing the situation. Several recalcitrant operators were also arrested and their equipment siezed.

An Inter-Ministerial Committee against Illegal Mining was established to supervise ban and the transition to the new legal and well regulated mining regime. The committee has completed its work and received cabinet approval to roll out the new framework.

The announcement will outline the following; how validated and legal responsible miners can mine after the 15th of December; Processes towards dredging and land reclamation in affected areas, Institutional reforms within the mining regulatory agencies; Legal reforms in the mining sector; Efforts to avert a resurgence of illegal and irresponsible mining .

It is expected that stakeholders and the general public will continue to cooperate with authorities even as this new phase is rolled out.

Tomorrow at the NPS, the Inter Ministerial Committee on Small Scale Mining will give an update on the work done so far and the current status ahead of the announcement. We encourage the media to help us amplify this presentation through your various channels.