A lecturer at the Mining Engineering Department of the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) has questioned the country's commitment to combating illegal mining.

This, according to Akuba Bezeba Yalley, is due to the issue being tackled on divided fronts without a common objective.

She added it does seem like some communities appear to be pleased with the fight against the canker because of the benefits enjoyed by some groups of people.

Speaking in an interview on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, she said “I would state that in fact, it would be if not impossible, very difficult for the country to fight these operations.”

Bezeba Yalley said if Ghanaians would approach the fight against galamsey with a common objective, it would be easier. She cited the all-hands-on-deck strategy used to combat Covid -19 during its outbreak.

Meanwhile, she has attributed Ghana’s rampant illegal mining activities to the overwhelming hurdles that are faced when securing lands.

According to Bezeba Yalley, the procedures involved in securing lands are unnecessarily hectic and daunting, with some people being denied applications. This, she says discourages even people who want to do right by the laws.

“I have gathered that in fact, the way and manner in which people actually want to do the small-scale mining are actually frustrated.

"So at the end of the day, the system itself is kind of promoting illegal mining. Someone who wants to acquire a license has to go through a whole lot of frustration. License that is supposed to be issued in about 4 months, the person would have to wait for about three or four years.

“Applications, even if they’re to be denied, they are to bring out some reason why those applications are to be denied or even delayed – they do not get feedback. So at the end of the day, it looks like even those who want to do things right are kind of discouraged,” she told Samson Lardy Anyenini.

Bezeba Yalley said that the formalisation process of mining activities has not been properly executed.

According to her, the process which seeks to tax mining operations leaves much to be desired because individuals who might have not registered their operations do not go through difficulties and also evade tax.

She added that illegal mining activities persist because perpetrators see that even those who want to go according to laid down procedures go through overwhelming challenges yet end up being denied.