Small Scale Miners Association calls for reduction of permit fees
The Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners(GNASSM) has condemned the inconsistent increment of the Environmental Protection Agency's(EPA) permit fees for small scale mining sector describing it as unrealistic. They are calling on government to as a matter of urgency intervene to call EPA to order to radically reduce the recent permit fees which they claim has risen astronomically from GHC750.00 to GHC 9,600.00 within a short period of time. It said the mining leasing fees has risen from GHC750.00 to $2400.00 convertible at the going exchange rate with $300 for processing and $2100 for permit which is uncalled for They’ve also maintained EPA has acted unfairly not taking into consideration the “dollarization” of fees and charges which has affected permit fees causing it to rise excessively contrary to the laws and directives of the Bank of Ghana. President of GNASSM, Evang. Kissi Collins Osei at a press briefing in Accra on Tuesday wondered why the