The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), Kofi Ofosu Nkansah, has challenged Franklin Cudjoe, the founding president of IMANI Africa, over claims regarding the issuance of mining licenses.
Mr. Nkansah highlighted inaccuracies in Cudjoe’s assertions by presenting official data from the Minerals Commission.
Cudjoe had previously suggested that a significant number of mining licenses were issued under the current government, which he argued has contributed to the rise of illegal small-scale mining, or “galamsey.” He criticized what he perceived as a relaxed approach by the Minerals Commission, resulting in environmental degradation and the exploitation of Ghana’s resources.
In response, Nkansah took to Facebook on Tuesday, October 8, to present figures showing that the number of licenses issued in recent years is far lower than Cudjoe claimed. He stated that the data clearly indicates the Minerals Commission has not irresponsibly approved licenses, branding the allegations as baseless.
He emphasized that all licenses issued have followed a rigorous process aimed at promoting responsible mining practices and noted the government’s commitment to formalizing the small-scale mining sector to combat illegal activities.
“Dear Franklin Cudjoe, these are figures on small-scale mining licenses issued since 2012 from the Minerals Commission. The CEO presented this to Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa’s committee in Parliament yesterday. They will issue a press release to counter all the falsehood you guys are spreading,” Nkansah wrote.
He pointed out that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) actually issued more licenses from 2012 to 2016 (1,402) than the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has issued in eight years (1,014). He explained, “The 2020 NPP figure was high because when the ban was lifted, there was a huge rush for licenses.”
In response, Franklin Cudjoe stated, “Ignore any government-sponsored propaganda that claims over a 1000 mining licenses were granted by 2016. As my colleague Bright Simons’ verified research shows, between 1988 and 2022 only 150 mining licenses were granted. Between 2022 and now, 1400 plus licenses were issued and carelessly regulated simply because most of the licenses were granted by highly placed politicians to their kind who were given freedom to mine recklessly.”
