A code of practice for small-scale mining operations is set to be outdoored shortly as part of the robust plans by government to end illegal mining popularly called galamsey in the country.
Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta told parliament on Wednesday, November 15, 2017 during the presentation of the 2018 Budget Statement and Economic Policy that committees will also be formed in all mining Districts to fight illegal mining and address issues relating to small-scale miners.
To guarantee the sustainability of the fight so far, he said a register of licensed small-scale miners has been compiled with a view to regularizing their operations and ensuring compliance with mining and environmental requirements.
The Lands and Natural resources, John Peter Amewu days ago said the ban on Small Scale mining is expected to be lifted by January 2018, instead of the October deadline given earlier.
The extension comes not long after some small scale miners in the Ashanti Region, embarked on a demonstration to demand an end to it, saying it was having an impact on their livelihood.
The government earlier in 2017 imposed a six-month ban on small-scale mining as part of efforts to end illegal mining and its related activities, which adversely affected the environment, particularly water bodies and forest reserves.
The elements of the fight have included public education, suspension of small scale mining operations to allow recovery of polluted water bodies, training of 400 small scale miners in sustainable mining practices at the University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa and establishment of Operation Vanguard, a 400 man strong security force to maintain security in mining districts and to enforce the ban.
