Ekwow Spio-Garbrah has expressed alarm over the sharp rise in the number of mining licences granted in recent years, questioning the rationale behind the approvals.
According to the former Communications Minister, the number of licences grew from about 57 in 2016/2017 to over 1,600 today, with several new approvals issued in just the past few weeks.
“Why are we granting so many licences? Even District Chief Executives (DCEs), who are supposed to protect communities from illegal mining, are now getting licences. This is a clear conflict of interest. How can they effectively combat the menace when they are directly involved?” Spio-Garbrah asked during an interview on Adom FM’s Burning Issues show.
He stressed that laws governing mining should be adhered to, warning that the involvement of DCEs in the industry undermines efforts to address illegal mining and protect local communities.