A day's sensitization workshop aimed at developing a framework to better inform policy makers to promote legalized small scale mining has been held at Obuasi.
In all, 50 participants including assembly members, small scale miners, mining companies, traditional rulers and representatives of the Environmental Protection Agency and Minerals Commission attended the workshop which had the theme "mainstreaming artisan small scale mining".
Presentations on institutional, legal and regulatory framework, research findings and regulation and enforcement on small scale mining were made by Sheila Minkah-Premo of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Dr Toni Aubynn, Head, Corporate Affairs and Social Development of Tarkwa Goldfields and Mr. A.A. Andoh, a consultant on the environmental.
The Ghana Chamber of Mines and BUSAC Fund sponsored the workshop.
Miss Joyce Aryee, the Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber, said it was time for Ghana to take decisions on what to do to promote artisanal small scale mining in order to stop the illegal mining (galamsey) that is going on, especially at Obuasi.
"To mine, you need a license so if you do not have a license, it is illegal. If you have a license to mine plot 'A' and you work on plot 'B', it is also illegal".
Miss Aryee said small scale mining had been going on for years and though it was a good thing as it provided employment and wealth to the individual, community and the nation, it needed to be done with due regard to the law.
She therefore called for collaboration to find lasting solution to illegal mining and at the same time supporting a positive campaign to promote legalized small scale mining.
Miss Aryee said she was of the view that the large scale mining could cooperate with the small scale mining to ensure the growth of the mining industry.
Prof Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwah, the Vice Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, called for stakeholders' collaboration to deepen the understanding of the operations of small scale mining.