About 200 stakeholders in the mining industry on Thursday attended a day’s sensitization workshop on the Minerals and Mining Health, Safety Regulations 2012 Legislative Instrument (LI 2182), in Koforidua, capital city of the Eastern Region.
The workshop, which was organized by the Minerals Commission, aimed to sensitize participants and the public on the LI, to enable them to play active roles in the enforcement of provisions of the legal document.
The event also aimed to strengthen collaboration between stakeholders and regulators in the mining industry.
Mr Kofi Adjei, Senior Inspector of Mines in charge of the Eastern Region, noted that Ghana had been operating outdated mining laws, and said since mining was dynamic, Parliament in June this year came out with six legislations (Minerals and Mining Regulations 2012).
He said that previous Legislation Instruments, among many things did not make provisions for surface mining and dredging and "no provisions were also made for processing plants, especially with regards to cyanide tailings storage".
Mr Adjei said existence of current health, safety and technical regulations had addressed those challenges.
He challenged the participants to operate within the laws, warning that those who may go contrarily to the laws, could face prosecution in the law courts and be jailed without option of a fine.
Mr Adjei said the Minerals Commission would henceforth descend heavily on those violate mining laws.
He advised workers in the mining industry to regularly go for medical checks and said: "do not think somebody is responsible for your safety, you should ensure your own safety".
Participants included representatives of large-scale mining companies, medium and small mining companies, industrial mineral operators, explosive companies, exploitative companies, service companies, district assemblies and traditional authorities.