Sammy Gyamfi
The Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Precious Minerals Marketing Company (PMMC), Sammy Gyamfi (Esq.), has reiterated the government’s position on small-scale mining, stating that President John Dramani Mahama will not ban small-scale mining despite public pressure to do so.
Mr. Gyamfi made this statement while addressing stakeholders and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the Upper East Region on the Ghana Gold Board Bill, which is being drafted to regulate mineral extraction and sales.
“The first thing I want to tell you is that John Mahama says he is not going to ban small-scale mining. We are not going to do that. However, we are going to fight those who are hell-bent on destroying our water bodies and forest reserves. At the same time, we will support those who want to mine legally and responsibly.”
He further stated that licensing will be decentralized to allow individuals interested in legal and responsible mining to obtain their licenses at the district level, eliminating the need to travel to Accra.
“We are going to stop the centralization of small-scale mining licensing in Accra. We want to bring the license application and issuance process to every district to make it more accessible. Very soon, the Minerals Commission and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources will work on that. You don’t have to go to Accra. You don’t have to pay a bribe. You don’t have to wait one or two years to get your license.”
Gold Board’s Support for Small-Scale Miners
As part of its mandate, the Gold Board is expected to provide mining support services to small-scale miners, including equipment and loans, to enable them to engage in responsible mining without causing environmental harm.
“In fact, you need machines for prospecting so that you don’t mine like playing the lottery—no trial and error. If you have the right prospecting machines, you will know where the real ore is, so you won’t have to destroy the land before finding gold. You need drilling machines, pumps, excavators, and processing plants that don’t use mercury. These are the machines John Mahama wants the Gold Board to acquire for licensed responsible miners.
Additionally, John Mahama is ready to support the Minerals Commission and the Ministry of Lands to zone and dedicate special areas as concessions for small-scale miners,” Gyamfi added.
The Purpose of the Gold Board Bill
The legal advisor to the Gold Board, Lawyer Abdul Basit, explained the purpose of the Gold Board Bill and the key issues it seeks to address.
“First, the bill will strengthen the value of our currency. It will also enhance the gold trade and marketing industry, ensuring that gold dealers and all those involved in the trade benefit.
Additionally, in order to achieve the objectives of this bill, we will provide support to small-scale miners so they can mine responsibly. This will help the country generate foreign exchange from gold, ultimately supporting the cedi.
The Bill, in summary, has been structured to enable the country to generate foreign exchange to support the currency, help Ghana build gold reserves to back the cedi, ensure that the benefits derived from gold are widely distributed, and provide support to small-scale miners to engage in responsible mining and maximize their earnings.”
Gold Board to Regulate the Gold Industry
Lawyer Abdul Basit further explained that once the bill is passed, the PMMC and the Minerals Commission will be placed under the Gold Board. No individual will be allowed to mine, buy, sell, possess, or deal in gold in any form without a license from the Gold Board.
*”When this law is passed, the PMMC will cease to exist as a separate entity; it will merge into the Gold Board. Once the Gold Board Bill becomes law, there will no longer be a PMMC. The Gold Board will have expanded regulatory powers to ensure compliance with the law.
The Gold Board will be responsible for exporting gold to international buyers, ensuring that Ghana earns the necessary foreign exchange.
Additionally, importing gold into the country will require a license. Refining gold will also require a license. It will be illegal to engage in any of these activities without proper authorization. Even fabricating gold into jewelry—such as making chains and earrings—will require a license.”*
Lawyer Basit emphasized that gold mining licenses will be reserved exclusively for Ghanaians, and no foreigner will be granted a license to engage in the gold business.
“We are reserving mining licenses for only Ghanaians. We want the benefits of our gold to remain in Ghana, which is why only Ghanaians will be eligible for licenses.”
Gold Board’s Contribution to Community Development
The Gold Board aims to streamline the mining sector and harness its potential for national development. As part of its initiatives, students from mining communities will be sponsored to study at the University of Mines and Technology to acquire the necessary expertise for responsible mining.
Mining communities are also expected to receive infrastructural upgrades to improve the quality of life for residents.
The Ghana Gold Board sensitization forum in the Upper East Region was attended by members of the Small-Scale Miners Association (Upper East branch), small-scale miners, chiefs from mining communities, civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations, the Minerals Commission, the media, and other key stakeholders.
From Ebo Bruce-Quansah, Bolgatanga