Today, April 14, 2021, is the start of the National Consultative Forum on Small-Scale Mining.
The platform will consist of a two-day roundtable discussion on the problems that small-scale mining faces.
There will be discussions on alternative options as well.
Main mining specialists, the Small-Scale Mining Association, and the Coalition of Civil Society Against Illegal Small-Scale Mining, among others, would be in attendance.
Stakeholders in the industry have suggested a variety of solutions to cope with illegalities in the sector ahead of the conference.
Some stakeholders have called for a clear political commitment to confront the problems head on, whilst others have advocated for the use of science and technology.
“The question of getting it [small scale mining] out of politics should be key,” said Richard Ellimah, Executive Secretary of the Centre for Social Impact Studies.
He also said that the use of technology in the industry could become more popular.
As an example, Mr. Ellimah proposed using geospatial monitoring mining equipment.
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“Technology is critical since managing the field can not succeed if there are so many individuals in the room with little [geospatial] surveillance of the work they are doing.”
As part of the ministry’s strategy to clean up the industry, it wants to decentralize mining control in the country to make it easier for mining companies to get licenses in their respective areas.
Samuel Jinapor, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, has vowed to develop a viable and sustainable mining sector that would benefit both the state and investors.
SOURCE: ATLFMONLINE
