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Minerals Commission to categorise small-scale mining

  • SOURCE: | qwesa2big
  • imagesThe minerals Commission is to re-classify the small -scale mining sector as part of efforts to address the challenges posed by illegal mining. The re-classification , which would spell out the activities and licensing requirements for miners, would classify the mining sector into three categories, namely:

    artisanal, small-scale and medium scale mining. This was made known by the Chief executive of the minerals commission, Dr Tony Aubynn, yesterday, when he interacted with journalists in Accra. He said the decision was considered after identifying some fundamental gaps in the current legislative framework and practices, which had made small-scale mining preserve of Ghanaians above 18 years.

    “The law had anticipated the use of simple implements but now we have operations using excavators and huge implements, which are contributing to the destruction of our river bodies and environments,” he said.

    New Categories

    Following the re-classification, Dr Aubynn said, artisanal mining would be reserved for only Ghanaians with a five year renewable license that would permit them to operate on a land size of up to 12.5 acres.

    Artisanal minning will use mainly manual methods to mine alluvial and weathered hard rocks material and a monthly levy will be collected’ he said. According to Dr Tony Aubynn, though operators would be required to follow a set of environmental and safety measures , they would be exempted from major taxes.

    Under the new policy, he said, Ghanaians would be given exclusive rights to operate small scale mining with  a land size of 25.2 acres., and would be permitted to use heavy mining equipment and explosives. The small scale operators ,he said would be strictly monitored by officials of the inspectorate division of the minerals Commission. Additionally, Dr Aubynn said the small-scale operators would be required to have at least one mining engineer and one geologist, and follow environmental and safety rules.

    In the third category, he explained , foreigners who were currently barred from the sector would be allowed to go into joint ventures with Ghanains, who would have 60 per cent ownership. The land size for medium -scale mining, Dr Aubynn said would have a 10-year license, subject to the business plan or limited feasibility report and posting of a reclamation bond.

    stakeholder engagement

    For the proposed framework to materialize, Dr Aubynn said the commission would embark on a country-wide stakeholder engagement in the third week of March 2016 to explain the framework and solicit for views on the re-classification of the sector.

    From April 2016, he said, the commission would collaborate with other institutions to undertake a country-wide registration of informal and illegal miners. He said those registered into co-operatives and allocated sites to mine at a fee.

    Equipment monitoring

    To track the use of heavy equipment for mining, Dr Aubynn said the commission was exploring the use of technology to register and track all earth moving equipments in  mining areas. ‘We have a technology that would enable us to deactivate an excavator from our office just by a click of a bottom. We are not against the use of equipment but it must be used in designated areas where it can be monitored’ he said.

    Source: Daily Graphic newspaper

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