I Don’t Issue Mining Licences Indiscriminately- Jinapor

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor has stated that meticulous work goes into the issuance of licences to small-scale miners under his leadership.

He does not take lightly, the discretion offered him by the law.

He has therefore kicked against suggestions that the licences have since 2022 been indiscriminately and blindly issued to applicants leading to the aggravated illegal mining with its ripple effect on the country’s forest reserves, land and water bodies.

“I say this in all humility and modesty; I don’t grant licenses indiscriminately, at all. I don’t. It’s the discretion that is given to me by law and I exercise that discretion very responsibly. Anybody who has worked with me and been close to me will attest to this fact,” he said in an interview on Citi FM.

According to him, players in the sector can attest to that.

“One of the biggest criticisms within the Ministry is the fact that this Minister doesn’t grant licences. I don’t because I know there are implications and that exercising that discretion must be done responsibly.”

He is willing to avail himself for scrutiny to absolve himself of all blame.

“I can submit my tenure to whatever scrutiny and it will be established clearly that I don’t grant licences indiscriminately.”

The Minister has come under public backlash after claims that 1,400 licences have been issued to small-scale miners in his tenure.

Stakeholders referencing data from IUCN say this is in a worrying contrast to the 150 licences that were issued between 1988 and 2022.

But government officials have disputed the figures saying 1402 small-scale mining licenses had been issued as of 2016 while under the current regime, 984 have been issued.

Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini