The Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, has revealed that the names of all small-scale miners who have been licensed and permitted to engage in mining activities will be published in the media on Monday, 17 December 2018.

The Minister of Science, Environment, Technology and Innovation made this known during the announcement of the lifting of the ban on small-scale mining and the launch of new mining reforms.

“All registered small-scale miners were given the opportunity to appear before a vetting committee to have their documents regularised. The ban on small-scale mining is being lifted for the compliant ones to go back to work within the regularised and reformed framework.

“The list of compliant miners will be published in the electronic and print media on Monday, 17 December 2018. This information will be available on the notice board of the municipal and district assemblies,” he said.

The lifting of the ban allows individuals with mining licences and valid Tax Identification Numbers (TIN) whose concessions have been validated and given cards with QR codes to show that they have been vetted, to go back to work.

Mining equipment, especially excavators and bulldozers not licenced by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) and tagged with electronic monitoring devices by approved agents, will also not be permitted for mining.

As part of processes to ensure reforms in the sector, small-scale miners have undergone training at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT)

All mining companies are expected to have at least one person trained in sustainable mining at UMaT, Tarkwa.

The process of validation is still ongoing and Ghanaians who wish to participate in small-scale mining can submit their documents to the relevant authorities and abide by the new regulations outlined to ensure sustainable forms of mining to prevent environmental degradation.