Minerals Commission Can't Be Everywhere Monitoring 'Galamsey' Activities!

The Minerals Commission has called on the entire nation to assist the Commission to nip illegal mining in the bud.

Speaking on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo', the Head of Small-scale mining at the Minerals Commission, Mr. Kofi Tetteh explained the laid-down procedures for prospective miners to follow before they're authorized to engage in small-scale mining.

According to him, before any group of individuals can engage in mining, they are obliged to find an area that's specified by the Commission in the sector and then a correspondence is sent to the district assembly of the area to inform them.

Then the appropriate authorities in the community are also informed and their consensus is needed to give the miners a green light before they start to operate in the vicinity, he added.

Mr. Tetteh outlined these processes among others to indicate that before any individual will engage in mining, due diligence must be done and a license given them.

However, he noted that there are some who have decided to use illegal means and start destroying water bodies and properties.

Mr. Tetteh expressed worry over the activities of illegal miners in the country, saying the Commission has been overwhelmed by such activities and so calls for the help and cooperation of the citizens to fight the menace.

He said illegal mining can only end with the collective responsibility of all Ghanaians.

To him, the Commission is working hard to resolve the issue but "we can’t be anywhere at the same time almost all day. We can embark on a tour but at the same time the moment you come back to your office, then activities; at times the activity goes on in the night. So, it’s a very big challenge. It’s not for the security or the Mineral Commission only. We, the citizenry, should also be a bit up and standing…So far as something starts, we can definitely bring an end to that activity.”