Ghana pushes for greater benefits for mining communities
Government says mineral wealth must contribute directly to the development of communities where mining takes place
Ghana is putting greater focus on ensuring that local communities benefit from mining activities taking place in their areas.
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Honourable Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has emphasised the need for Ghana’s mineral resources to directly benefit communities where mining activities take place.
During a courtesy call by a delegation from the North East Region at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources on September 15, Buah said local people had to see tangible benefits from the exploitation of mineral resources in their areas.
“Mineral resources must benefit the people there where the mining is taking place,” he said.
The visit formed part of efforts to streamline mining activities in the North East Region and establish a framework for harnessing its mineral potential.
Buah said government’s plans to introduce policies and programmes to improve efficiency and effectiveness in the mining industry had been captured in the reforms being introduced and implemented by the administration of President John Dramani Mahama.
He also raised concerns about the practice of holding prospecting licences for extended periods, saying 30 years of prospecting as a licence holder should make way for better-prepared investors to enter the prospecting space.
“That is the new way forward,” he said.
The minister also welcomed the initiative by the Overlord of the Mamprugu Kingdom, Naa Bohagu Mahami Abdulai Sheriga II, to engage the Ministry and the Minerals Commission on ways to develop the mining potential of the North East Region.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Isaac Tandoh, said the Commission would support efforts to unlock the region’s mining potential. He said the Commission would map mineralised zones using available data while examining the licensing regime applicable to the area.
The North East Regional Minister, Ibrahim Tia, said he had visited mining sites in the region and cautioned illegal mining operators against activities that undermine government’s mining policies.
Following the meeting, Buah established a working committee to facilitate cooperation between the Ministry and the North East Region. The committee will focus on addressing illegal mining and attracting an appropriate investment framework to support development in the region.
