IMCIM cautions DCE’s on illegal small-scale mining

Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, has cautioned all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to comply with government’s measures to vet small scale miners before lifting the ban on small-scale mining.

According to him, current issues to be complied with by the MMDCEs are: evacuation of all earth moving mining equipment to designated areas, installation of tracking devices on equipments, vetting and verification of artisanal and small-scale mining licenses, and community mining model.

Speaking in Accra on Monday at a retreat for DCE’s in Accra, he added that government, intends to vet and verify some 1,350 legally registered artisanal and small-scale mining companies this month.

Soon after the President Akuffo-Addo was sworn into office in January 2017, he formed the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) in March to coordinate and salvage the ongoing galamsey menace.

The members of the committee are made up of Ministers of the following ministries; Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), Lands and Natural Resources (MLNR), Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD), Chieftaincy & Religious Affairs, Regional Re-Organisation and Development, Monitoring and Evaluation, Water and Sanitation, Interior, Defense and Information.

So far, 73 District Committees on Illegal Mining (DCIMs), chaired by the MMDCEs have been formed in various municipalities and districts to manage illegal mining at the local level.

“It is your responsibility to educate and ensure that all activities outlined in the road map are adhered to,” Prof Frimpong-Boateng cautioned.

This comes after cabinet approved the roadmap to regulate activities relating to small-scale and artisanal mining.

Government, last year placed an initial six-month ban on artisanal and small-scale mining following the upsurge in illegal mining popularly known as galamsey in parts of the country.

The ban however has been extended many times to enable government to fully sanitise the mining sector.

Madam Akosua Frema Opare Osei, Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, in her address encouraged all MMDCEs to seriously adhere to these compliance measures to enable the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) increase its tax base for job creation and encourage responsible mining.

She added that the community mining model in particular, will reduce galamsey, encourage responsible mining and ensure strict adherence to the collection of Tax Identification Number (TIN) for both individuals and corporate organisations.

Hajia Alima Mahama, Minister for Local Government and Rural Development also warned that all MMDCEs and persons who engage in all forms of illegal mining activities, will be exposed and made to face the law.