Ghana crafts 'task force' to curb illegal mining

Mining News  |  2013-05-20 06:18:27   |   By

The Government of Ghana has formed a 'task force' in an attempt to fight the menace of illegal gold and diamond mining in the African country.

ACCRA (Scrap Monster) : The Government of Ghana has formed a ‘task force’ in an attempt to fight the menace of illegal gold and diamond mining in the African country.

The illegal mining activities have cost millions of dollars in revenue for the country. It also has lead to violence and has proved to be dangerous for the environment. The government also announced that not only foreign companies but also local firms can henceforth purchase gold and diamonds for export. The Government would also provide all assistance to small scale mining companies where sustainable mining practices are in use. The Government is said to have reiterated its  commitment to flush out all unauthorized Chinese miners and other illegal operators in the small mining sector in Ghana to avert the looming environmental crisis.

Illegal mining has been one of the big problems facing the Ghana mining industry. Nearly 300 illegal miners were killed in various incidents in the past two years which have raised serious concerns regarding the quality of safety standards being practiced in the country’s mines. It is estimated that there are thousands of illegal miners in the country, majority of them being from China.

Ghana is Africa’s second largest gold producer. The country is also a major producer of diamond, bauxite and manganese. The country has 23 large-scale mining companies and hundreds of small-scale mining companies. Ghana’s economy depends largely on gold exports.