Ghana Chamber Of Mines Wants Tano North MCE Arrested Over Alleged Prospecting Permit Abuse
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, has publicly called for the arrest of the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Tano North over what he says is an unauthorised issuance of a mineral prospecting permit — an action he says clearly breaches the laws governing Ghana’s mining sector.
Dr. Ashigbey made the remarks during an interview on JoyNews on Thursday, February 12, 2026, where he explained that he had seen a document allegedly signed by the Tano North MCE granting a prospecting licence — a power that, under Ghana’s mining regulations, belongs only to the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and not to local government officials.
According to the Ghana Chamber of Mines boss, allowing the MCE to issue such licences undermines the legal framework that is meant to regulate mining activities in the country and strengthen the fight against illegal mining, commonly called galamsey. He said that if the document is genuine, the MCE has acted outside of his jurisdiction and should be held accountable under the law.
Dr. Ashigbey stressed that enforcing the correct procedures for issuing mining licences — including prospecting permits — is vital to maintaining order and integrity in the mining sector. He said irregularities in licensing weaken governance and public confidence in how mining operations are supervised, and they make it harder to combat illicit mining activities that harm the environment and the economy.
The Ghana Chamber of Mines represents a wide range of mining companies in Ghana and regularly engages with policymakers to ensure the industry adheres to established laws and ethical standards. Its call for law enforcement action reflects broader concerns about protecting the country’s mineral resources and enforcing regulatory compliance in a sector that contributes significantly to national revenue.
As of now, there has been no official statement from security agencies or the Tano North MCE on the matter. However, the Chamber’s public demand has drawn attention to the need for clear adherence to mining laws and the roles of different authorities in issuing mining licences.
