Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Minerals Commission, Martin Ayisi says the commission has expedited processes involved in granting mining licenses.
According to him, delays in the issuance of licenses in the past contributed to the increasing number of illegal mining (galamsey) activities.
Speaking to Parliament’s Government Assurances Committee, he said, “When my minister took office in 2001 (2021), the 1st thing he said to me was that Martin, the delay in issuing licenses is what is causing the problems (galamsey). So cut the delay.
So, what did we do, we went online. So, what hitherto to will take a year or 2, now even a week or two they upload (documents) we do the inspection and they get on with it. When you don’t give them the licenses, they go and do it illegally,” he reiterated.
Martin Asiedu noted that he has so far not received any instructions from government or the sector minister to put a hold on the issuance of mining licenses. “As we sit here, my officers are online processing applications from small scale miners.”
“I have not received any instructions from government or minister to hold on. My officers are online processing applications for small scale mining”.
Martin Ayisi, Minerals Commission CEO made this revelation at Assurance Committee sitting in Parliament#GhanaTonight #3NewsGH pic.twitter.com/7Vw1VIXuym
— #3NewsGH (@3NewsGH) October 8, 2024
