By Yvonne Atilego
The Minerals Commission says all paper-based applications have been abolished. This is part of the Commission’s quest of improving the licence regime and going digital. Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Martin Ayisi at a Media Briefing in Accra, announced that all Mining Companies can now file their returns online.
He said the Commission does not grant licences. It only regulates and manages the Sector. The granting of licences however is the sole prerogative of the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources.
He also outlined some challenges;
”Illegal mining persists, Smuggling of gold from SSM resulting in a significant fall in production,
Funding of geological investigation of block out areas for SSM,
Encroachment of quarry sites,
Illegal sand winning and the high cost of exploration compared to Regional peers, among others”.
Mr. Ayisi said so far, 1, 400 Small Scale Licences have been digitized. Small Scale Miners can now apply for their licences. He noted that before the digitization of their operations, application for licences could take up to seven months. This hassle, he said, has changed.
He spoke of the way forward; ”Inauguration of District Mining Committees, Launch more areas for community mining, Develop strategies to diversify the mineral resource base (industrial minerals),
Listing on the Stock Exchange, Support for Research & development of Skills, and
VAT on exploration (assaying) which constitutes about 70% of the cost of exploration”, according to the Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Martin Ayisi.