According to the Auditor General's performance audit report on reclamation activities at small-scale mining sites(2021), the Minerals Commission and the EPA didn't ensure small-scale miners complied with reclamation conditions, nor did they verify or certify reclaimed small-scale sites.
The Auditor General commissioned the report to ascertain whether Minerals Commission (MC) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have ensured that small-scale miners reclaimed mined lands to return them to their maximum beneficial value.
The report noted that EPA did not administer posting of reclamation bonds as required by Regulation 23 of the Environmental Assessment Regulations, 1999 and failed to collect an amount of GH¢524,300.00 from 12 concessioners.
The inspectorate division of the MC did not ensure the submission of operating plans before issuing them with operating permits the report reveals.
The report noted that the Minerals Commission and the EPA didn't ensure small-scale miners complied with reclamation conditions, nor did they verify or certify reclaimed small-scale sites.
The Auditor General recommended to the EPA and the MC to put measures in place to ensure their monitoring and reporting lead to the reclamation of small-scale mining sites in the country.