The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Ing. Dr Kenneth Ashigbey, has called for the arrest of the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Tano North over what he alleges is the unlawful issuance of a prospecting permit. 

Speaking on JoyNews on Thursday, February 12, Dr Ashigbey described the development as a serious breach of established procedures governing mineral licensing in Ghana.

According to him, he had sighted a document purportedly issued by the Tano North MCE granting a prospecting permit, a responsibility he insists falls solely within the mandate of the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources. 

“I’ve just shared a permit, I think, from the Tano North MCE is supposed to be giving for prospecting, and you know who is supposed to be signing a prospecting licence, it’s the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources,” he said.

Dr Ashigbey questioned the authority under which the MCE allegedly acted, stressing that such actions undermine the legal framework designed to regulate mining activities and combat illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey. 

“But he, the MCE, has issued it and by now he should be arrested,” he added.

The Ghana Chamber of Mines CEO emphasised the need for strict enforcement of the law to deter irregularities in the mining sector. 

He maintained that allowing unauthorised persons to issue mineral licences weakens the fight against illegal mining and erodes public confidence in regulatory institutions.