The inter-ministerial committee on small scale mining has disclosed the disappearance of some 900 small scale mining licenses.
Secretary to the Committee, Charles Bissue says the total number small scale mining licenses in the books totals 1,350, adding that the committee that is currently vetting the small scale mining licenses have been able to access only four hundred and twenty one (421) of them.
According to him, the committee has become alarmed about the whereabouts of the remaining nine hundred (900).
Speaking on an Accra based radio station and monitored by BestNewsGH.com, Mr. Bissue noted that committee has dispatched its men to move into the various mining concessions in search of the remaining 900.
Mr. Bissue blamed the previous government for a lot of rot that took place in the place in the small scale mining sector, explaining that some of the miners falsified document s in order to get the licenses.
‘’We are looking into all these issues and the president has instructed that we should investigate all these matter, after which we should set parameters and ensure that everybody works within those parameters’’ he said.
Mr. Bissue also cited negligence on the part of the state agencies responsible for issuing permits and licenses to the small scale miners, accusing them of being corrupt.
He underscored the importance of streamlining activities in sector to ensure that revenues due the state actually goes to the state and not into the pockets of the few who are trying to fleece and milk the country dry, through the mining sector.
Source: BestNewsGH.com
