As part of the ongoing public consultation on the review of Ghana’s Mining Policy and amendments to the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), the Minerals Commission’s Review Committee engaged with members of the Tarkwa Zone of the Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners (GNASSM) at Golden Gift Hotel in Tarkwa, Western Region.
Under the Chairmanship of the Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Small-Scale and Industrial Minerals, Mr. Isaac Andrews Tandoh, the engagement with members of GNASSM in Tarkwa marked the final phase of consultations with small-scale miners comprising miners from Central, Western and the Western North Regions.
Prior to the engagement, similar meetings were held in Koforidua with miners from the Eastern, Volta and Greater Accra Regions; Kumasi with miners from the Ashanti, Ahafo, Bono and Bono East Regions; and Tamale with miners from the Northern, Savanna, North-East, Upper East, and Upper West Regions.
Prior to the engagement with members of GNSSM, the Committee held similar consultations with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the extractive sector, allied institutions, and academia in Accra at the Peduase Valley Resort, as well as with the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC).
The miners were taken through two sessions of presentations. The first presentation on the Draft Review of the 2014-Mining Policy was conducted by the Chairman of the Policy Review Committee and former CEO of the Commission, Mr. Benjamin Aryee. The second presentation on the proposed amendments to the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) was also delivered by the Mr. Josef Iroko, Manager of Legal.
The miners, among other submissions requested the Minerals Commission to uphold the timelines for the processing of licences, allow licences for Support Services to remain valid for one year from the date of issuance, limit the involvement of Chiefs in the licensing processes to consultation only, and urged the Committee to consider instituting controls to prevent traditional authorities from charging unapproved fees to mineral right holders.
These concerns were noted by the Committee as relevant for consideration in the review process.
In his closing remarks, the Technical Advisor to the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources (MLNR), Professor Jerry Samuel Yaw Kuma, admonished GNASSM members to remain united and eschew tendencies that could divide their ranks.
He indicated that as part of the key considerations of government is to ensure that traditional authorities are deeply consulted in mining licence issuance.
Prof. Kuma stated that the government intends to introduce Cooperative Mining to encourage the participation of host mining communities in the mining enterprise and to minimize illegal activities.
He encouraged them to carefully consider submitting written and compelling proposals for the consideration of the Review Committee.
Mr. Tandoh also requested that GNASSM submit a written proposal within two weeks after the engagement. He further encouraged the miners to leverage on government interventions to promote the growth of the artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sub-sector.
Also present at the engagement were Mr. Emmanuel Kwamena Anyimah, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Support Services; Mr. Benjamin Aryee, Chairman of the Review Committee and former CEO of the Commission; Mr. Nelson Ahedor, Director, Small Scale & Industrial Minerals; Mr. Josef Iroko, Manager of Legal; Dr. Ahmed Tijani, Head of Corporate Affairs & IT, Mr. Eric Emmanuel Bukari, Manager Small Scale & Industrial Minerals; and Mr. Kwame Ahumah, Ag. Head of Mines, Ministry of Lands & Natural Resources, among others.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Isaac Justice Bediako
