The Minerals Commission is stepping up efforts aimed at regularizing activities of illegal miners across the country.

This forms part of measures to address the illegal mining menace popularly called “Galamsey” in the sector.

The phenomenon has posed a major threat to, not only legally registered mining firms but the growth of the sector and the economy at large.

The Chief Executive of the commission, Dr Toni Aubynn explains to JOY BUSINESS, roping in the 'galamsey' operators into mainstream mining has been identified as a more sustainable way of addressing the issue.                    

"As a country we are facing a major challenge of informal mining, the method being used and its impact on the country is very worrying," Dr Aubynn said. 

He disagrees with the assertion that Ghana is losing the fight against illegal mining, disclosing that the Commission has a focus on resolving that.

"The Commission has proposed something that when applied will work by taking the bulls by the horn and registering illegal miners," Dr Aubynn said.  

He added that they are tired of using the police to always chase illegal miners since that has not worked in the past. 

"We need to sit with them, register them where they are. Once we know where they are, we either move them from there or support them to regularise them and making things easier for them register and work peacefully," Dr Aubynn said.