Three mining companies to begin operations in Dormaa Municipality

Three mining companies have received validation and mining concessions from the Minerals Commission to begin small scale mining in the Dormaa Central Municipality of Brong-Ahafo Region.

Their certification came following government's lifting of the ban on small scale mining based on an institution of a workable plan to streamline activities of small scale miners in the country.

The ban on ‘galamsey’- illegal mining activities still remains in force.

The companies are Peter Oteng Mining Company Limited, Richever Mining Company Limited and Cosado Mining Company Limited.

Mr. Drissa Ouattara, the Dormaa Central Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) announced at the end of 2018 general meeting of the Municipal Assembly at Dormaa-Ahenkro.

He appealed to the chiefs and residents in the Municipality to help government to permanently halt illegal mining operations by exposing both indigenes and foreigners engaged in it.

"With the lifting of the ban on small scale mining, we ask our traditional rulers to team up and confer with us for the necessary cross-checks to be done first if any person surfaces in their areas, wanting to do small scale mining," he stressed.

The MCE added that to give expression and commitment to government's determination to fight and eliminate illegal mining, 20 mining companies were also sent to George Grant University of Mines and Technology (GGUMaT) at Tarkwa in the Western Region to receive training on how to apply appropriate and recommended operational methods for sustainable mining in the Municipality.

He indicated that a Municipal Mining Committee with a mandate similar to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Mining had been established to help supervise activities of miners in the Municipality.

The Committee is chaired by Mr Ouattara, and the membership included; representatives each of Municipal Assembly, Bureau of National Investigation, Forestry Commission, the Dormaa Traditional Council, Ghana Immigration Service, Environmental Protection Agency, the Municipal Police Command and the National Commission for Civic Education.

The MCE later presented certificates to the 20 mining companies that were trained on best mining practices at GGUMaT.