The Minerals Commission has rejected calls to suspend the issuance of mining licenses as a way to combat illegal mining, arguing that delays in processing licenses only exacerbate the problem.
Martin Ayisi, the CEO of the Minerals Commission, explained during a meeting with the Government Assurance Committee of Parliament on Monday, October 7, that when licenses are not issued promptly, it pushes many individuals towards illegal mining. This, in turn, leads to significant damage to water bodies and forests.
Ayisi emphasized that while tackling illegal mining is crucial, halting legitimate license issuance creates a vacuum that illegal operators exploit.
“When my minister took office in 2021, his first instruction was clear: ‘Martin, the delays in issuing licenses are fueling the problem. Fix it.’ We went online to streamline the process, and what once took a year now takes one or two weeks. Applicants upload their documents, we inspect, and they proceed,” Ayisi noted.
He further explained that without licenses, many individuals resort to illegal mining. “I won’t say everything is perfect with those who have licenses, but stopping issuance won’t solve the problem,” he added.
Ayisi also addressed growing calls for an outright ban on small-scale mining, warning that such a measure would be unjust. “If you ban small-scale mining, you’re punishing those following the law along with those engaging in illegal activities,” he said.
He urged the government to resist imposing a blanket ban, as it would hurt responsible miners who have made efforts to minimize environmental impact, while illegal operations along rivers like the Pra and Birim would continue unchecked.
SOURCE: https://dew360.net
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