Upper East Regional Minister, Rockson Ayine Bukari has entreated Governing Board members of the Minerals Commission to streamline measures geared towards blocking unapproved channels that pave way for the Ghana natural resources to be taken out of the country.
Mr. Bukari Observed that gold mined in the country sometimes find its way out the country thereby denying the country of its benefits of the natural resource.
The minister who emphasized the need to safeguard gold accrued in Ghana in order to boost the country’s economy commended board members of the minerals commission for the new strategic direction they have brought to strengthen mineral regulation in the country.
“Those who have come here to help us, let’s find out, how do they send these minerals out? This is our concern. How they are sending the gold out, I don’t know and this is our country. After 61 years of independence, we have lost our regulations. They should not treat us with impunity, they must respect our laws, I am happy you have come to see things for yourselves, am happy you have come to see what God has given us. What do we do as a team, as Ghanaians to help our people?” he asked
He used the opportunity to appeal to the Minerals commission board to make sure the mining companies always fulfill their social responsibilities to the land owners and the community.
“The social responsibilities of these people should be fulfilled, because they are using our lands exploiting us. What do they do to help us, we need hospitals, we need schools, and we need water”
He further pleaded to the Board of Directors of mineral commission to find ways of addressing the issue of small scale miners, since they are also citizens and have lot of responsibilities to carry out.
Board Chairman of the commission, Sampson Kwaku Boafo and CEO of the Commission, Addae Antwi Boasiako said despite royalties paid by the mining companies to government, it is an obligation for mining companies operating in the country to employ the locals in their operations.
“Some of them claim they pay taxes to government, but communities should be employed, ‘the locals’ that is way I was impress about ‘CARDINAL RESOURCES’ about 90 percent of their workers are people from the area here. So they must let the communities be involved. I remembered when I was a regional minister, I visited a village in Ashanti where I was the regional minister and the people were crying for a toilet, but they were going to dig something different. So ordered the DCE to put up a toilet and they were satisfied”.
They stressed that they right of the community members must not be violated because the royalties are paid to government by these mining companies.
The two-day familiarization visit in the region was focused on two mining companies CARDINAL RESOURCES and SHANXI MINING GHANA LIMITED all in the Talensi district of the Upper East Region.
Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen|A1radioonline.com|Ghana
