The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Dr Kenneth Ashigbey, has called for the arrest of the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Tano North over an alleged unlawful issuance of prospecting permit, a function reserved for the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources under Ghana’s mining laws.

Speaking in an interview on JoyNews on Thursday, February 12, 2026, Ashigbey disclosed that he had seen a document purporting to be a permit from the Tano North MCE.

He stressed that only the minister has the authority to grant such licences.

“I’ve just shared a permit I think from the Tano North MCE. You know who is supposed to sign a prospecting licence? — it’s the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources.

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“…but he, the MCE, has issued it…by now he should be arrested,” he said.

Ashigbey questioned the legal basis for the MCE’s move, warning that such actions could undermine Ghana’s efforts to regulate mining activities and curtail illegal operations popularly known as “galamsey”.

Ashigbey reiterated the need for strict adherence to the Minerals and Mining Act and its related regulations to protect the sector’s integrity and maintain public confidence.

His call follows broader industry appeals for accountability, including demands that officials involved in the issuance of illegal mining licences be held accountable under the laws of Ghana.

SO/VPO

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