The Coordinator of Eco-Conscious Citizens, Awula Serwah, has described the government’s decision to revoke small-scale mining licenses issued after December 7 as a step in the right direction.

However, in an interview on JoyNews' The Pulse on Wednesday, March 19, she expressed cautious optimism, stressing that the real challenge lies in effective monitoring and enforcement of responsible mining practices.

Madam Serwah noted that inadequate oversight has been a long-standing issue, making it difficult to regulate the large number of small-scale mining operations effectively.

"We welcome it with cautious optimism; it is a step in the right direction. But of course, there are still thousands of small-scale licenses, and we don’t know what monitoring is actually being done," she stated.

"The most important thing is monitoring to ensure that mining is done responsibly. Whether or not you have a license, the real issue is whether or not you are mining responsibly," she added.

According to her, government must also address the thousands of licenses issued earlier and ensure that small-scale miners adhere to environmental and safety regulations.

Her comment comes after the Lands Minister, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah announced a revocation of all mining licenses granted after the 2024 elections.

Responding to the Minister’s statement that all small-scale mining licenses are under review, Madam Serwah stressed that the process must go beyond paperwork and extend to on-site inspections.

"When reviewing, you have to go to where they are mining. Do they have all systems in place? For example, miners need tailings storage to prevent contaminated water from being washed into the community’s drinking sources. Who is monitoring? Who is ensuring that proper mining practices are followed?" she questioned.