An Assistant Lecturer at the Mining Engineering Department of the University of Mines and Technology, (UMaT), has attributed the rampant illegal mining activities to the overwhelming hurdles that are faced when securing lands.
Bezaba Yalley said the procedures involved in securing lands are unnecessarily hectic and daunting, with some people being denied applications.
This, she says discourages even people who want to do right by the laws.
“I have gathered that in fact, the way and manner in which people actually want to do the small-scale mining are actually frustrating.
“So at the end of the day, the system itself is kind of promoting illegal mining. Someone who wants to acquire a license has to go through a whole lot of frustration. A license is supposed to be issued in about four months, the person would have to wait for about three or four years.
“Applications, even if they’re to be denied, they are to bring out some reason why those applications are to be denied or even delayed – they do not get feedback. So at the end of the day, it looks like even those who want to do things right are kind of discouraged,” she said on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday.
She said the formalisation process of mining activities has not been properly executed.
According to her, the process which seeks to tax mining operations leaves much to be desired because individuals who might have not registered their operations do not go through difficulties and also evade tax.
The lecturer added that illegal mining activities persist because perpetrators see that even those who want to go according to laid down procedures go through overwhelming challenges yet end up being denied.
Touching on the fight against the menace, the lecturer explained that it is becoming impossible to win the battle because it does seem like some communities appear to be okay with the activity because of the benefits enjoyed by some groups of people.
“We’re fighting something that looks like it’s beneficial in a way to some group of people. So at the end of the day, it looks like Ghana itself which is fighting this illegal mining is divided.
She has, however, advised that the procedures for acquiring lands for the purpose of legal mining activities be made attractive in order to ensure proper regulation.
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