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Government of the Republic of Ghana has assured its citizenry that it will reserve the small-scale mining industry for them saying, “No foreigner would be allowed to take part”.

“We will tighten the procedure for acquisition of mining permits so that, we can do away with foreigners from the industry. No foreigner will be allowed”. Mr. Benita Owusu-Bio, Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resource said in an interview on Angel FM’s morning show, in Kumasi monitored by MyNewsGh.

The minister stressed that the mining rules in the country clearly state, “In the small-scale mining industry, no foreigner should be allowed to operate”

“It’s illegal for any foreigner to engage him or herself in the activity. We are now going to tighten all these regulations so that, nobody can defile the regulations”. He added.

The legislator, also mentioned that, since the activities of small scale-miners and “galamseyers” have destroyed crops of farmers, the government has instituted a livelihood program in helping them replanting on their farmlands.

“As I we speak now, the government has nursed over two million (2,000,000) seedlings of the palm at Dunkwa to be distributed to farmers who were affected by the activities of these miners”. The minister noted.

According to the minister, the program will help the farmers regain their plantation and also help them improve their lives adding that, more measures government have been put in place for sanity in the industry after the ban has been lifted.

 “We have to prevent and make sure that, nobody would be able to transport excavators to any part of the forest he would like to mine. There will be the need to track these excavators. We shall give mining licenses and permit to excavators to track them”. He stressed

Mr. Owusu-Bio explained that the mining permits going to be issued to the excavators will help government prevent miners from mining in areas they are not supposed to.

In the early part of the year 2017, the President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo waged a war against illegal mining with the hope of reclaiming damaged natural resources of the country especially water bodies.

Government consequently extended the six months ban on small-scale mining to nine. Many small-scale mining operators accused the president of deceiving them.

The ban has been in force till date however, President Nana Addo has hinted the ban will be lifted soon but refused to give a time frame this will happen.