The National Concerned Small Scale Miners Association, Ghana (NCSSMAG), has called on President John Dramani Mahama to oust Mr. Martin Kwaku Ayisi from his position as Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission. The association argues that under Ayisi’s leadership, the commission has failed to effectively support government efforts to curb illegal mining and foster sustainable practices within the sector.

At a press conference in Kumasi, NCSSMAG President Michael Kwadwo Peprah criticized Ayisi for undermining the government’s environmental reforms by approving mining leases that allow operations in forest reserves and along river bodies. These activities, Peprah claims, have contributed to environmental degradation and water pollution, problems that were already exacerbated under the previous administration.

“These destructive practices continue to haunt us and risk derailing the progress the current government has worked hard to make,” Peprah said. “We are seeing the same mistakes repeated, and that threatens the integrity of the vital reforms that are so urgently needed.”

Representing a significant portion of Ghana’s licensed small-scale miners, NCSSMAG believes that Ayisi’s continued tenure as CEO is incompatible with the government’s vision for a reformed mining sector. The association insists that a leadership change at the Minerals Commission is essential to realign the body with the national agenda for environmental protection and the empowerment of legal small-scale miners.

“The restructuring has to start from the top,” Peprah emphasized. “If Mr. Ayisi remains in charge, it will only derail the government’s efforts to establish a regulated and responsible mining industry.”

As the debate surrounding the role of regulatory bodies in the fight against illegal mining and environmental damage continues to intensify, the miners are urging the government to appoint a new CEO who is committed to sustainability, environmental protection, and collaboration with the small-scale mining community.

The appeal for a leadership change is the latest in a series of calls for more stringent oversight and reforms within Ghana’s mining sector, where illegal and environmentally harmful practices have long been a source of controversy.

Source:TheDotNews