Ing. Ken Ashigbey, convener of the Media Coalition Against Galamsey, has accused some Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) of facilitating illegal mining by collecting fees and charges from operators engaged in galamsey. The alleged practice raises serious questions about the commitment of local authorities to the fight against illegal mining, particularly when public institutions mandated to protect communities and the environment are accused of collecting revenue from activities deemed unlawful.
A Recipe for Disaster
Ing. Ashigbey's comments come against the backdrop of a JoyNews investigative documentary, A Tax for Galamsey: The Extortion Racket Fuelling Illegal Mining, which exposed allegations that a district assembly in the Amansie Central District of the Ashanti Region had been collecting payments from operators of prohibited mining equipment. The investigation found alleged instances in which illegal miners were required to pay fees to enable them to continue operating, with payments reportedly formalised through stickers, receipts, and other documentation linked to the District Assembly.
Collection of Fees from Illegal Miners Risks Creating a Parallel Taxation System
The JoyNews investigation reported that operators of changfan machines were allegedly charged about GH¢6,000 annually, while operators using excavators were also allegedly subjected to payments in exchange for continued operation. Ing. Ashigbey questioned whether the issuance of receipts or the collection of officially sanctioned fees could legitimise an otherwise illegal activity. He challenged the argument that the collection of fees could be seen as a legitimate way to fund local government activities.
Consequences of Inaction
Ing. Ashigbey warned that continued involvement of public officials in activities linked to illegal mining was deepening the environmental and economic consequences of galamsey. He said authorities must confront the issue more decisively, as the practice of collecting fees from illegal miners risks creating the impression that payment to a public authority can substitute for the licences and environmental approvals required by law. The issue has since moved beyond the initial Amansie Central allegations, with President John Dramani Mahama saying that investigations indicated that several districts in gold-mining areas were engaging in similar revenue-collection practices involving mining equipment.
The Role of Local Authorities in the Galamsey Fight
The government position underscores the significance of Ing. Ashigbey's concerns over the role of local authorities in the galamsey fight. Ing. Ashigbey said authorities must confront the issue more decisively, warning that the continued involvement of public officials in activities linked to illegal mining was deepening the environmental and economic consequences of galamsey. He questioned why no decisive action had been taken against municipal and district authorities allegedly involved in collecting money from operators engaged in unlawful mining.
A Broader Question about the Effectiveness of Ghana's Decentralised System
The controversy raises a broader question about the effectiveness of Ghana's decentralised system in the fight against illegal mining. Ing. Ashigbey said that authorities must confront the issue more decisively, warning that the continued involvement of public officials in activities linked to illegal mining was deepening the environmental and economic consequences of galamsey. The effectiveness of Ghana's decentralised system in addressing the galamsey menace is now under scrutiny.
The issue of MMDAs collecting fees from illegal miners has sparked calls for investigations, with the government subsequently directing the relevant authorities to examine the allegations. The Lands Ministry said it had taken notice of the documentary and would investigate the conduct of officials implicated in the report. The controversy surrounding the MMDAs' role in the galamsey fight is set to continue, with Ing. Ashigbey's comments highlighting the need for decisive action to address the issue.
Source: Joy Online
