Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party, has declared that if he wins the 2024 presidential election, he will modify the Minerals Act.
He emphasized that the Chiefs would be included in the mineral licensing procedure before any miner could receive a license to operate in a particular area thanks to the proposed modification, which would include their participation.
During his Western Regional campaign tour, Dr Bawumia made this statement on Thursday when he spoke to the Western Regional House of Chiefs.
He noted that one of the main problems facing the small-scale mining sector is the traditional authorities’ lack of interest in mining licensing.
He suggested changing the Minerals Act to include Chiefs in his formalization program for the mining business if he was elected president.
“We want to formalize small-scale mining, but without Chiefs’ involvement, we cannot succeed,” he said. The licensing of miners in their community must involve the chiefs. They must participate in the entire procedure. Therefore, to do all of this, we must alter the Mining Act as needed. Decentralize the Environmental Protection Agency and the Mineral Commission so that they are located in different areas.
