A member of the defence and interior committee of parliament has urged small scale miners to continue obeying a ban on mining activities, as parliament takes steps to ratify the license regime for the business.
Alexander Afenyo Markin says the 1992 constitution of Ghana requires the ratification of the small scale mining license. This is the Obligation of the minerals commission, the environmental protection agency and the ministry of lands and natural resources
This has however not been done, and it is one of the factors that has led to the rampant destruction of the environment by illegal small scale miners.
In an effort to rein in illicit mining, government has placed a six month moratorium on small scale mining to review laws governing the sector
Mr Markin charged agencies responsible for maintaining law and order in the mining sector to be proactive to serve guard the natural environment.
“I will want to drive home a point it is Ghanaians who must change their attitude respect our own laws, respect the environment and do not give that excuse that we have no job so we would want to do things the way we want….agencies must also be active, proactive and enforce the law.â€