-Sparking Public Backlash
Ghana has witnessed an unprecedented surge in the issuance of mining licenses within a space of only two years which is believed to have fast-tracked the mass destruction of the country’s environment.
Data published by the Vice President of IMANI Africa, Bright Simons reveals that the Minerals Commission, from 2022 to present, issued more than 1400 mining licenses. This two-year figure compares to a paltry 150 licenses which were issued between 1988 to 2022 marking 34 years.
This means an over 800% increase in two years compared to 34 years.
This rapid and mass issuance of permits for mining, some industry experts say raises critical questions about the management and regulation of the sector which is contributing to the destruction of the country’s water bodies and forest reserves.
This astronomical rise in the licenses issued by the Mineral’s Commission in the last two years, Bright Simons reveals, can be attributed to what he describes as political pressure by the government.
“Detailed analysis shows that this massive ramp-up is due to an increase in political pressure on the Minerals Commission. For instance, in 2019, the Mines Ministry approved 100+ small-scale mining (SSM) licenses & nearly 20 mining leases. 7.
“Yet, the Minerals Commission only confirmed 1 mining lease & 14 blocks for SSM. The mad rush to issue licenses started after 2022 when it was made easier to mine in forests. Clear political overriding of technical decision-making? Was the ministerial change in Feb 2021 a trigger?” he quizzed.
Bright Simons further noted that this mass permit issuance was not commensurate with the expansion of the capacity of the Minerals Commission to undertake inspection and supervision.
He said the number of inspectors, while there was mass issuance of permits, has rather reduced. The government failed to replace 9 District Mine Inspectors who were sacked in 2017 drastically reducing the nationwide total which is less than 50.
“Last year, there were barely 38 qualified Minerals Commission inspectors for the whole country after the government sacked 9 District Mine inspectors in 2017,” he indicated.
Furthermore, he said following the reduction in inspectors coupled with the mass issuance of permits, the reductions in inspections have seen a significant dip. In Bibiani, one of the country’s major mining hubs, inspections dropped from 138 in 2016 to just 46 in 2019. Across Ghana, only 383 surface mining inspections were conducted in 2019—an average of barely one inspection per day.
Bright Simons believes the insufficient oversight and manpower coupled with the unchecked issuance of licenses is fueling illegal mining operations, exacerbating environmental damage, and diminishing the state’s ability to ensure sustainable mining practices.
Despite public agitations against the mass and unchecked issuance of mining licenses, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO)of the Minerals Commission, Martin Ayisi believes the mass licenses are rather slowing the devastations.
Martin Ayisi, appearing before the Assurances Committee of Parliament on Monday, October 7, 2024, explained that the failure of the Commission to issue licenses means these people will still mine the illegal way.
The CEO insisted that the mass issuance of licenses is rather checking the menace of illegal mining adding that without it the situation would have been worse.
