Miner advocates decentralization of mining licenses to curb illegalities at Obuasi workshop:

A prominent businessman and miner, Mr. Felix Y. Andam, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Anfel Mining Company Limited, has called for immediate reforms in the mining license issuance process, specifically advocating for decentralization to local assemblies. Mr. Andam made the appeal during a workshop program on responsible mining practices and environmental security held recently in Obuasi.

Expressing deep concern about the arduous process of obtaining mining licenses, which often requires frequent and costly trips to Accra, Mr. Andam argued that the current system breeds frustration and ultimately contributes to the prevalence of illegal mining activities. “When the person struggles in getting the license, it leads to loss of hope,” Mr. Andam observed.

“Sometimes, people have to travel to and fro to Accra all in the name of acquiring a license. When the person struggles through all this stress for very long without getting the license, they end up resorting to illegal mining. Let’s assume you have the resources and the training but you’re just left with the license. As a hungry person who is eager to work, he may end up doing the illegal mining when several efforts to get the license fail.”

To address this issue, Mr. Andam urged the government to decentralize the license acquisition process to local assemblies. He believes that this would significantly reduce the burden on prospective miners, allowing them to obtain the necessary permits without undue stress and expense. “Decentralizing the license acquisition to the local assemblies will bring more sanity into the system.”

While advocating for easier access to licenses, Mr. Andam emphasized the critical need to maintain rigorous standards and ensure that all applicants are well-qualified before being granted a license. He urged that proper measures be established to assess the competence and responsibility of applicants at the local level.

The workshop program, which served as the platform for Mr. Andam’s call, was organized to find responsible ways of mining to curb illegalities. It engaged a wide range of stakeholders, including representatives from the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), the Ghana Police Service, traditional chiefs, small-scale miners, the Minerals Commission, and local politicians. The event aimed to foster collaboration and identify strategies for promoting sustainable and environmentally sound mining practices.

Mr. Andam, who participated in the workshop as a stakeholder(miner), expressed his gratitude to the organizers for providing a forum for discussing critical issues facing the mining industry. He further urged fellow miners to prioritize responsible mining practices at all times, emphasizing that responsible operations are crucial for curbing the pervasive menace of illegal mining that currently challenges the country.