Accra: The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has announced plans to revoke additional unapproved licenses for small scale miners across the nation. This initiative is part of a broader effort to reform and sanitize the mineral sector, ensuring that mining laws are properly streamlined and compliance with responsible mining practices is enforced.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Abdul Waliu Kabore Mahmud, the Public Relations Officer at the Ministry, explained this strategic move in an interview. The decision follows an audit of small scale mining licenses, focusing on regulatory compliance, expiration dates, and other critical criteria, conducted by the sector Minister, Mr. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, after assuming office this year.
The Minister has utilized the provisions in the Minerals and Mining Act of 2006 (703) and the Minerals and Mining Regulations 2012 (LI 2173) to initiate the revocation process. Mr. Kabore Mahmud highlighted that in June, the Ministry reviewed 907 mining licenses, allowing many to resubmit updated information. However, 278 licenses were found to have significant issues such as irregularities and expired documentation.
The Ministry has already revoked 374 licenses, including that of Akonta Mining firm. The PRO stated that the next step will involve auditing larger mining companies to strengthen institutional monitoring and evaluation systems.
Mr. Kabore Mahmud also mentioned that the Minister recently acquired 24 land cruisers for the Minerals Commission, Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), and Water Resources Commission. This retooling effort is part of a plan to enhance monitoring and ensure compliance with environmental and mining regulations, ultimately leading to either compliance or additional license revocations and penalties.