Vetting of small scale miners: Gov’t announces one week extension

The government has announced an extension of one week to the vetting of all small scale miners in the country to fully access their readiness to abide by the laws that govern mining activities in the country, according to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM).

The vetting, which started on Monday, September 3, was part of activities to regularize the mining activities and as roadmap by the government to lift the ban on small scale mining in the country.

The documents they are expected to present include Mining License, Environmental Permit, Operating Permit, Certificate of Registration, Tax Identification Number, two copies of passport size photos, Birth Certificate, Passport or Voter’s ID and current contact details.

Persons who pass the vetting will be cleared to return to the mines when the government eventually lifts its 2017 ban on all forms of small-scale mining activities.

The government placed an initial six-month ban on small-scale mining last year following the prevalence of illegal mining popularly known as “galamsey’’ in the country.

The ban, which was to protect human health and the environment hazards from the activities of the galamsey, had faced some extensions in order for government to fully sanitize the mining sector.

Speaking to otecfmghana.com on Friday, September 7, 2018, the Secretary to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), Charles Bissiw, said the extension will give the miners enough time to prepare their documents for presentation.

According to Charles Bissiw, the exercise is part of measures been put in place that the country’s mining industry is sanitized and to ensure that commercial activities in the industry are in a responsible, environmentally-friendly and sustainable manner

Source: otecfmghana.com/Kwaku Anane Jnr.