The Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners has warned there could be a massive increase in the illegal menace popularly known as galamsey, following what it describes as an astronomical increase if permit fees by the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA. Addressing critical issues bothering the industry at a news conference, the association said EPA's permit fees has been increased from Ghc750 to $2,400 an equivalent of Ghc9,600.

The association said the new fees will clearly be a disincentive to miners who were not already turning up to register when the fees was much less.

Executive Director of the Association, Emmanuel Yirenkyi, says the new fees may only end up encouraging illegal mining.

"We are going to see a very astronomical increase in illegal mining activities in this country. You were charging 750 cedis and they were not willing to come so how do you now charge $2,400? It's like you are just sacking them away. And those in the sector are also not going to come because its more or less a disincentive to us".

Meanwhile the association has also called on government to immediately review the activities of the Inter-ministerial Task Force against Illegal Mining.

The association accused the taskforce of extorting monies from its members whose operations have been regularized by the Minerals Commission. The miners lamented the president's purpose for setting up the Task Force was being defeated.

Describing them as extortionists, the General Secretary of the Small Scale Miners Association, Godwin Armah, said the taskforce goes round brutalizing members who have regularized their activities with the Minerals Commission while those perpetuating illegal mining are left off the hook.

The General Secretary called for an immediate halt to their operations and a review of their mandate.

"They go to various sites charging and taking monies from people, confiscating and seizing people's equipment without even consulting the Minerals Commission especially when areas that are blocked out are only known by the Minerals Commission so there should be a collaboration with the Task Force and the Minerals Commission. The miners should also keep their licenses on site so that when the Task Force go their sites they can show it to them".