The CEO of the Minerals Commission, Martin Kwaku Ayisi, says that a comprehensive ban on small-scale mining will negatively impact legal operators in the sector.

He stated that the focus should be on regulating unlicensed mining activities rather than imposing a blanket ban on the entire small-scale mining sector.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile, he said, “The discussion is about illegal mining. In other words, persons or individuals who don’t have all the authorisation to go and work and they are working, which is illegal."

"We need to separate it from several others who have obtained licenses and are working. So when you say we should ban small-scale mining lawfully, I have a problem with that," he added on September 7.

• Read also: GWCL backs health workers’ call for small-scale mining ban

Mr Ayisi noted that the fundamental issue driving illegal mining is the lack of available, authorised mining sites.

He warned that simply banning mining activities or increasing security measures will not resolve the underlying issue.

“So we need to work towards addressing how to get a place for them to work,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) in the Central Region has joined calls to put pressure on the government to stop small-scale mining in the country.

• Read also: Impose ban on small-scale mining in Ghana – Health workers to Akufo-Addo

According to the company's Public Relations Officer, Nana Yaw Barima Barnie, the company is struggling to purify water due to the high turbidity levels, which exceed the system's original capacity.

When asked whether he supports calls by the Ghana Medical Association for the President to issue an absolute ban to end galamsey he said “I very much agree with them."

"In fact the aim of Ghana Water Company in bringing out this statement is that attention should be drawn to it so that the galamsey on river bodies, Ghana Water Company want to see galamsey stopped entirely."