The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Dr. Sulemanu Koney, has stressed the need for mining to serve as a catalyst for development in Ghana. He believes that mining, if managed properly, can contribute significantly to the country’s economic growth and development.
Dr. Koney noted that mining has the potential to generate employment opportunities, promote local content and skills development, and contribute to government revenue through taxes and royalties.
“When we say mining is a catalyst for development, essentially, what we are saying is that by the sheer presence of mining, we should quicken the pace of development.”
With its vast potential, the CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Mines explained that the development gap in the country could be bridged when mining resources are utilized judiciously.
“So, if per the plans of the country, this area [Upper East Region] would take 200 years to be like Accra, all we are saying is that, with the presence of the mining, we should be able to cut the years to either 20 or 30 years. Because the mining is there and it is providing opportunities for our people to do businesses”, he stated.
The Ghana Chamber of Mines CEO made these remarks on Tuesday when, together with his entourage, he paid a courtesy call to the Upper East Regional Minister, Stephen Yakubu, as part of a visit to Cardinal Namdini Mining Limited. The visit to the subsidiary of Shandong Gold, a Chinese mining firm in the Talensi district, aims to foster a good working relationship after the mining firm joined the union.
To ensure that mining catalyzes development, Dr. Koney suggested the need for a strong partnership between the government, mining companies, and local communities. He emphasized the importance of dialogue and collaboration in addressing the challenges and concerns of all stakeholders involved.
He emphasized the need for stakeholders in the region to support Cardinal Namdini Mining Ltd with the maximum security for the company to properly harness the resource for the benefit of the people, “because if the mines are adversely affected, we are also affected, and therefore it is in our collective interest to also be the first point of call when it comes with security.”
On his part, the minister encouraged the mining company to prioritize local procurement and support local businesses to promote economic growth and development.
“I know most of their jobs are given through contracts and usually, they are unable to prevail on these contractors to make sure that the people that they employ are actually from the area. That is what I want them to consider when they are drafting their contract. But we are not saying that if you are looking for a particular skill of labor and you can’t get it from the region, you should stop. You can get it from somewhere, after all, we are all Ghanaians, but, a majority of the workers should come from here”
The CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Mines and his entourage together with management of Cardinal Namdini Mining Ltd also paid a courtesy call to the Overload of the Talensi Traditional Area, Tongraan Kugbilsong Nanlebegtang
The paramount chief disclosed that the traditional council had submitted a draft agreement to the mining firm to look at the mode of employment and the developmental needs of the mining area.
“We hope that having received it we will now sit down with them, and by the time they enter the production phase, we will have agreed on the modalities of so many things like the employment quotas that have to be given to us, the engagement of contractors, development of quota for us by way of mining royalties and agreement on development fund for the development of the Talensi traditional area”, he added.
The team ended the tour for the first day with a courtesy call on the District Chief Executive for Talensi, Thomas Duanab Wuni Pearson. Emmanuel Kofi Adusei, Community and Social Responsibility Manager of Cardinal Namdini Mining Limited indicated that the company is currently in the construction phase and expected to transcend to the production phase next year “to become one of the major mining companies in the country”
Mr. Adusei thanked all stakeholders, the minister, the paramount chief of Talensi, and the DCE for their support for the company and pledged that the company will as always implore responsible mining practices that would contribute significantly to Ghana’s development.
Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Joshua Asaah|Bolgatanga|Ghana
