- Small-scale miners call the license revocation unfair
- The policy only affects small miners, not large-scale operations
- Eco-Conscious Citizens back the policy but urge better monitoring
The Small-Scale Miners Association has opposed the government’s decision to revoke small-scale mining licenses issued after December 7, labeling it as discriminatory and unjust.
This follows the announcement by the Lands Minister, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, to revoke all mining licenses granted after the 2024 elections.
In a statement on behalf of the association, its Communications Director, Abdul Razak Mohammed, criticized the decision, questioning why it targets only small-scale miners and not large-scale mining companies.
“Why are only small-scale miners being affected? Why isn’t the policy applied to all mining operations? If licenses issued after December 7 are to be revoked, whether for large or small miners, the policy should be consistent across the board. This selective targeting of small-scale miners is unjust,” he said.
Mr. Mohammed further pointed out the challenges faced by small-scale miners, such as land restrictions and difficulties in monitoring activities.
He argued that large-scale mining companies often fail to control illegal mining on their land, sometimes even allowing illegal miners to operate on their concessions while blaming small-scale miners for the issue.
“We are limited to a maximum of 25 acres to operate. If I can’t effectively monitor this small area, how do you expect large-scale companies with 300 to 400 square kilometers to do so? These larger concessions often have illegal mining activities, yet they blame small-scale miners,” he argued.
Meanwhile, the Coordinator of Eco-Conscious Citizens, Awula Serwah, has expressed support for the government’s decision to revoke small-scale mining licenses issued after December 7, viewing it as a positive step. However, in an interview on March 19, she emphasized the importance of effective monitoring and enforcement of responsible mining practices.
She also called on the government to address the thousands of earlier licenses issued and ensure small-scale miners comply with environmental and safety regulations.
“We welcome it with cautious optimism; it’s a step in the right direction. However, there are still thousands of small-scale licenses, and it’s unclear what level of monitoring is happening,” she stated.
“The key issue is ensuring that mining is done responsibly. Whether a miner holds a license or not, the real challenge is whether they are mining responsibly,” she added.
