The Mineral�s Commission is sourcing for funds from some organizations in the country and abroad to provide financial and equipment support to Small Scale Miners in the country.
The support, in the form of credit facilities to small scale miners, is to enhance the operations as well as create job opportunities for the citizenry.
Dr Toni Aubynn, Chief Executive Officer of the Mineral�s Commission said this on Wednesday in Accra at a forum to brief the media on issues concerning the operations of the Commission.
Dr Aubynn said the Commission is considering re-categorizing small scale mining operations to take care of those using heavy equipment since this type of mining method was not originally considered by the proponents of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006.
He emphasized that the re-categorization would ensure that appropriate taxes, fees and royalties are paid to the state for development.
Dr Aubynn said the Commission would collaborate with the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority and the Driver Vehicle and Licensing Authority and other stakeholders to track activities of operators of excavators and other earth moving equipment for mining purposes.
He said excavators were to be brought to the country under special customs clearance for mining and construction and that regulatory agencies will not relent on its duty to ensure that the excavators are used for its purpose.
Dr Aubynn explained that owners of these excavators and earth moving equipment for mining activities should be responsible for reclamation after mining to minimize the disturbances of the environment.
He noted that the Commission is seeking funds to establish a state-of-the-art fully fledged cadastral system to ensure effective monitoring and be able to capture information through the use of Information and Communication Technology.
Dr Aubynn explained that the system would address issue of speculations in the mining industry and concession owners who fail to comply with the terms of their licenses will be automatically tracked and sanctioned.
He appealed to all groups and communities to relay any grievances they have with any company to the Commission for redress.
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