The Ghana Chamber of Mines has renewed calls for the formalisation of the artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector, arguing that the move is critical to curbing illegal mining, increasing government revenue, and ensuring mining communities benefit more from the country's mineral wealth. Speaking in a joint interview after the opening day of the three-day West African Mining and Power Exhibition (WAMPEX) 2026 in Accra, Chamber President Michael Edem Akafia and Chief Executive Officer Ign. Ken Ashigbey said illegal mining remains a major challenge across the West African sub-region and announced plans to develop a framework that would allow large-scale mining companies and small-scale miners to coexist while helping government formalise the sector. According to the Chamber, artisanal and small-scale miners accounted for about 52 percent of Ghana's gold production in 2025, yet contributed only a fraction of the tax revenues generated by the mining industry. Ashigbey said fo...