The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Ken Ashigbey, has urged the government to deepen its engagement with the Minerals Commission and other key stakeholders to formally integrate small-scale miners into the tax system under the revised mining royalty framework.
According to Mr. Ashigbey, broadening the tax base to include small-scale mining operations would enable the government to generate additional revenue without placing an undue burden on large-scale mining companies. He observed that although small-scale miners contribute more than half the output of large-scale mines, they remain minimally regulated from a taxation standpoint.
He noted that once appropriate tax rates are agreed upon, small-scale miners could also contribute fairly to national revenue. Mr. Ashigbey stressed that a more inclusive and balanced tax structure would help the government meet its revenue targets without relying heavily on large-scale producers.
While reaffirming the Chamber’s support for fair taxation, he cautioned against making long-term fiscal decisions based solely on current high gold prices, describing the situation as temporary. He warned that sustainable revenue generation requires steady, long-term planning rather than short-sighted policy choices.
Mr. Ashigbey also revealed that the Chamber presented an alternative royalty proposal to the government following the introduction of the Legislative Instrument. Instead of a steep royalty increase, the proposal recommended scrapping the Growth and Sustainability Levy and introducing a sliding royalty scale ranging from four to eight percent.
Additionally, the Chamber proposed dedicating one percent of mining companies’ net profits to a community development fund aimed at supporting projects in mining communities. He explained that this approach would ensure that local communities experience tangible benefits during periods of high global gold prices, reinforcing the need for sustainable and inclusive mining policies.