Chief Executive of the Minerals Commission, Martin Ayisi, has voiced his opposition to calls for a moratorium on issuing new mining licenses, citing concerns that such a decision could worsen the illegal mining crisis.

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Responding to civil society organizations and environmentalists who are advocating for the revocation of L.I. 2462 which allows mining in forest reserves Ayisi emphasized that halting new licenses would drive individuals towards illegal mining activities, commonly referred to as "galamsey."

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“When you don’t give them the licenses, what they would do is that – they would go and to do it illegally. To say that we shouldn’t grant licenses, that would be a problem,” he argued.

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While testifying before Parliament’s Assurance Committee on Monday, October 7, Ayisi argued that denying licenses would not solve the problem but rather exacerbate it.

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He also noted that delays in the licensing process contribute to the illegal mining issue, emphasizing that withholding licenses could lead to increased illegal operations.

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Moreover, Ayisi acknowledged that even licensed mining companies sometimes fail to adhere to regulations, which highlights the necessity for rigorous monitoring and evaluation of compliance.

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Additionally, he pointed out ongoing illegal mining activities, including instances of 'galamsey' occurring behind a police station in Anyinam, Atiwa East District, where he criticized law enforcement for not taking action to address the issue.

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