By Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party, has unveiled his intention to revise the Minerals Act should he secure victory in the upcoming presidential elections.
He stressed that the proposed amendment aims to integrate chiefs into the mineral licensing process, guaranteeing their participation before any miner can acquire a license to operate in a specific area.
Dr. Bawumia made this announcement while addressing the Western Regional House of Chiefs on Thursday as part of his Western Regional campaign tour.
He pinpointed the absence of traditional authorities’ involvement in mining licensing as a significant challenge confronting the Small-Scale Mining Sector.
As a remedy, he suggested amending the Minerals Act to integrate Chiefs into his mining industry formalization program should he assume the presidency.
He stated, “We want to formalise small-scale mining, but we cannot be successful without the participation of Chiefs. The chiefs have to be part of the licensing of miners in their locality. They have to be part of the whole process. And so, we have to make the necessary amendments to the Mining Act to do all of this. Decentralise the Mineral Commission to be in the various districts, decentralise the Environmental Protection Agency.”
