SITUATION ANALYSIS OF THE SMALL-SCALE GOLD ... - WWF

5.6 Government Institutions
The Ministry of Natural Recourses (Ministerie van Natuurlijke Hulpbronnen; NH) is
the government entity responsible for everything related to mining, whether it occurs
legally or illegally. The SSGM sector falls within this responsibility. The Geology and
Mining Department is part of this ministry, and administers ore extraction activities (with
the exception of oil and bauxite)..
The Geology and Mining Department (Geologische Mijnbouwkundige Dienst, GMD) is
the working arm of the NH with regard to management and control of the mining sector.
Its tasks include the preparation of concession applications and the inspection of mines
and mining. Several dedicated individuals within GMD are working hard to improve
administrative and technical facets in the SSM sector. but, the institution is unable to
facilitate the sound management of the sector ..
Even though the GMD is responsible for mine inspection, in practice it is very difficult
for its officers rarely visit the field, particularly the more isolated mines. Field inspections
are primarily hindered by a lack of facilities. The GMD has only two field stations, at
Loksi Hati and at Afobakka, for the entire interior. Neither one of these stations is
permanently occupied by field officers or fully equipped. With one pick-up truck and a
bus, travel facilities are inadequate, as is the money to charter transportation services
(plane, boat) from third parties. A 2003 WWF grant (US$300,000) to the GMD in
support of SSM regulation should have resolved some of these hindrances. Orientation
studies have been prepared and fact finding missions were undertaken. This grant,
however, has not yet produced tangible results in the form of measurable technological,
socio-economic, and behavioral changes in either the institution or the SSM sector.
A second obstacle to regular and systematic mine inspections is the lack of stamina
among GMD personnel to be stationed in the field. There are exceptions of GMD officers
who do take every opportunity to familiarize themselves with the field situation. The
proto-typical urban GMD employee, however, is not willing to leave the comfort of the
city behind to live in a place without electricity or clean drinking water and a high chance
of contracting malaria. Employing and training local people, possibly ex-miners, as GMD
field officers could help overcome this hurdle.
Sources within the GMD attest that efforts to sanction concession holders who do not
comply with their mining or reporting obligations have been paralyzed by resistance from
higher up. Yet it is clear that letting go of this type of preferential treatment is critical to
the reform of the sub-sector and implementation of fair and equitable mining regulations.
The Ministry of Physical Planning, Land and Forestry management (Ministerie van
Ruimtelijke Ordening, Grondbeleid en Bosbeheer)
The Nature Conservation Division (Natuur Beheer; NB) is responsible for the protected
area system. NB employs game wardens that implement control in certain areas and on
roads to and in the interior. Due to limited resources, remoteness and lack of easy access
NB has not always been able to field sufficient wardens to monitor and control PA‟s.
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