Ken Ashigbey, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, has called on the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) to enhance its traceability systems to prevent gold produced through illegal mining from entering the formal market.
In an interview conducted on Thursday, August 6, he emphasized the importance of effective traceability measures in combating illegal mining, highlighting that GoldBod plays a crucial role in stopping the acquisition of gold from illicit sources.
“I believe it is taking too long for us to establish our traceability systems domestically. I hope that the Gold Board will address this issue so that gold from illegal sources is not bought,” he remarked.
Mr. Ashigbey also voiced his concerns regarding what he termed insufficient resources allocated to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to combat illegal mining effectively.
He noted that while government agencies are actively addressing the issue, the Ministry requires enhanced logistical and financial support to fulfill its responsibilities effectively.
“We are not witnessing the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources receiving the necessary resources to perform its duties. This is not occurring, and it is a matter that we must seriously consider if we aim to tackle the problem,” he asserted.
In addition to resource allocation, the CEO of the Chamber of Mines highlighted the need for stricter enforcement against individuals engaged in illegal mining, arguing that the lack of visible penalties undermines efforts to mitigate the issue.
“We cannot permit individuals to be openly involved in illegal mining without any consequences. The time has come for the media to publicize the names of these individuals and inquire about the actions being taken against them, so that everyone is aware of the repercussions for engaging in wrongful activities,” he concluded.
Ken Ashigbey called on authorities to find a balance that allows legitimate mining companies to operate responsibly while also enhancing efforts to safeguard the nation’s water bodies and natural resources from the harmful impacts of illegal mining.
His remarks follow a tragic helicopter crash that occurred a year ago in Adansi Asokwa, Ashanti Region, which resulted in the deaths of eight individuals, including two state ministers, during an official mission related to combating illegal mining.
