Mining committee vets all artisanal and small scale-miners from Sep 3

The Presidential Committee on Environment and Natural Resources will begin vetting of the licenses of all artisanal and small-scale miners from Monday September 3, 2018.

This, is in line with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's quest to sanitise and regularise artisanal and small-scale mining operations in the country.

There is currently a ban on all forms artisanal and small-scale mining in the country.

A roadmap for the government to lift the ban on small-scale mining was rolled out in Accra on Thursday August 16, 2918.

Although the roadmap does not state the specific time the ban will be lifted, there are indications that it may happen before Christmas this year, depending on how the implementation of the roadmap is done.

Accordingly, members of the Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners (GNASSM) have been advised to submit their documents to the office the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining for vetting.

Read also: Govt to lift ban on small-scale mining soon; Roadmap rolled out

A letter dated August 28, 2018 and signed by Charles Cromwell Nanabanyin Onuawonto Bissue, Presidential Staffer and Secretary to the inter-ministerial committee and addressed to the members of the GNASSM asked that anybody who needs further clarification should contact the secretariat at the Office of President Annex.

"In view of this, all registered artisanal and small-scale miners whose licenses were operational as of April 1, 2017 are to submit copies of their documents to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining," the letter stated.

The letter mentioned the documents to be submitted for vetting as mining license, environmental permit, operational permit, certificate of registration, tax identification number (TIN), two copies of passport size or voters ID, birth certificate and current contact details (telephone and/or email address).

Read also: Ban on illegal mining extended again

Related: Media Coalition protests neglect in govt's roadmap to lift ban on small scale mining

Writer's email: enoch.frimpong@graphic.com.gh

Follow @enochfrimpong Follow @Graphicgh