The Small-Scale Miners Association has strongly opposed the government’s decision to revoke small-scale mining licenses issued after December 7, labeling it discriminatory and unjust.
Their objection follows an announcement by the Lands Minister, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, revoking all mining licenses granted after the 2024 elections.
The association’s Director of Communications, Abdul Razak Mohammed criticized the decision, questioning why it targets only small-scale miners while leaving large-scale mining companies unaffected.
He further outlined the challenges faced by small-scale miners, including limited access to land and inadequate monitoring mechanisms.
He argued that large-scale mining companies often fail to curb illegal mining on their concessions, sometimes even allocating portions of their lands to illegal miners while shifting the blame onto small-scale operators.