The government has revoked 278 small-scale mining licenses found to have been fraudulently issued or irregularly approved, the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Yusif Sulemana, disclosed on Tuesday.
In a candid admission before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), the Deputy Minister also stated that some politicians are complicit in illegal mining (galamsey), and their sabotage continues to undermine the nation’s fight against the menace.
Also read: NAIMOS taskforce attack: Asutifi MP dragged to court
“The truth of the matter is that we are the very people who are also involved in these illegal mining activities. So, our own conduct sometimes is the problem,” Mr. Sulemana told the Committee.
Mr. Sulemana, who represented the sector Minister, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, stressed the government’s commitment to sanitising the sector.
He explained that a comprehensive review of 1,200 small-scale mining licences had uncovered 907 irregularities. While some were minor administrative issues that have been corrected, 278 were found to be beyond remedy and were subsequently cancelled.
“We found cases where officers approved concessions even when professional reports advised against it. In other instances, mining licenses were granted near communities and high-tension lines. We have revoked all such licences and challenged the affected persons to go to court if they wish,” Mr. Sulemana stated.
The Deputy Minister also revealed that 113 mining sites identified in the Auditor-General’s report have now been gazetted. This is alongside ongoing geological investigations, supported by the Ghana Gold Board and a Chinese company, to identify new mineralized areas for legitimate miners.
“We will sanitise the system and allow only those genuinely interested in mining to operate,” the Deputy Minister emphasised.
PAC Chair Abena Osei-Asare urged the Ministry to sustain these measures to prevent future infractions, stressing the need for transparency in the licensing process.
The Committee has been reviewing the 2024 Auditor-General’s report of the accounts of ministries, departments, and agencies.