This is because the country cannot continue to rely on infec­tive measures in the mining sector that leads to massive environ­mental degradation, pollution of water bodies and health hazards.

Audrey Quaye, a Senior Advisor to Ghana Environmental Advocacy Group, a non-govern­mental organisation, who made the call in an interview with the Ghanaian Times, said “we must develop a sustainable mining model for Ghanaianoperators before they are certified and licensed to undertake community and small-scale mining.”

She suggested strict and effec­tive regulation on mining, though the idea of local people being in the forefront of the sector and owning majority of concession­were intended to improve the economy and create jobs.

“The State Mining Corpo­ration mines were privatised. In the early 2000s other play­ers such as Newmont Mining entered Ghana’s gold mining sector and licenses were issued to small scale mining companies and the small scale mining sector was reserved by law for Ghana­ians, ”Ms Quaye, recalled.

She said despite the good intention, the time had come for the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Min­erals Commission to partner the country’s universities, to develop a sustainable mining model, to deal with pollution of water bodies and environmental degradation, as a result of small scale mining.

Ms Quaye noted that the country earned 10 per cent of the value of minerals mined as royal­ty, which was very small compared to the value of the country’s minerals.

She said in 2019, Ghana was the largest producer of gold in the World, but asked “what does the country have to show for this? The mining towns are ran down with limited amenities for the residents.”

Ms Quaye noted that the in­troduction of small scale mining unfortunately led to the emer­gence of illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, adding that some small-scale miners used the same destructive methods as those of illegal miners.

She appealed to the govern­ment to focus on alternative sources of livelihoods such as ag­riculture, food processing, crafts and tourism, to accommodate the teaming youth engaging in illegal mining.

“They have caused tremen­dous damage to parts of the country’s land, farms and rivers, and lagoons. The polluted rivers have also had a negative impact on the health of people in affect­ed communities,” Ms Quaye said.

He called on communities to ensure that plans for community mining projects were stopped until sustainable mining practices were put in place prior to certifi­cation and licensing.