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Association Of Local Mine Contractors Ghana (ALMCoG) is protesting a 500 percent increase in mining services permit from the Minerals Commission.
According to them, Local firms are now to pay $10, 000, instead of ¢2,000.00 cedis a year.
Registration form and processing fees are now $250.00 and $500.00 respectively.
They said the commission also charges an additional $6,000.00 to $10,000 depending on how they will categorised your company before a permit can be acquired.
The contractors have hinted of possible demonstration if the minerals commission fails to review its charges.
The group which consists of over 1,000 members nationwide, also argued that the commission’s decision has compelled each their members to pay $10,000.00 as annual fees.
Speaking to the media, the National Secretary, Mr. Samuel Aboagye said, “despite the monies being charged, it is only the license fee that can be used to tender a contract from the mining companies.”
He indicated that the aggrieved contractors petitioned the Minerals Commission on 13th May, 2019, to review its charges, but to no avail.
He then added that, the exorbitant charges are not only collapsing their businesses but they also defeat government local content inclusion agenda.
Nana Yaa Adutwumwah, the Queen-mother of Ahafo Kenyasi No.1, who is also a patron of the association also stressed that failure for Government and Minerals Commission to listen to their plea, will rather kill local miner’s businesses.
She finally hinted that, the members of the association don’t have the capacities to pay that hefty fees and they will not allow any foreign investors who are capable of paying, to have the peace of mind to work.
Nana Yaw Owusu/Ahafo Region.
