$1 million lost through illegal mining

Ghana is losing about $1 million annually through tax evasion by illegal miners, a study conducted by the Ghana Chamber of Mines has shown.

In terms of royalties, the state loses about $780,000 through the activities of the illegal miners.

The study revealed that the number of people engaged in illegal mining has soared to about 50,000, with foreigners also involved.

The leader of the Research Team, Dr. Toni Aubyn, tells Joy News illegal mining must be tackled as an issue of national concern.

He also indicated that only five per cent of the operators are registered or have permits to do mining. “Even those who held the licenses were not operating on the grounds for which the licenses were given,” Dr Aubyn pointed out.

The researcher also revealed that most persons who mined in the areas were either expatriates or persons coming from other regions.

“So there are critical issues that need to be looked at in order to try and address the illegal side of mining and to prevent these unnecessary deaths,” he indicated.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Ms Joyce Aryee disclosed to Joy News regulations against illegal mining must be enforced.

“Artisanal small-scale mining is a good mining business but it has to be done through the laws that government itself has established,” Ms Aryee told Joy News' Elvis Adjetey.

Story by Elvis Adjetey and Fiifi Koomson/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana