Dr. Steve Manteaw, Co-chair of the Ghana Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (GHEITI), has called for proactive planning by local authorities in mining districts to ensure the benefits of upcoming mining projects are fully realized.
Speaking during a stakeholder engagement in Bolgatanga organized by the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Dr. Manteaw emphasized the need for local governments to prepare for the influx of revenue and opportunities that the mine will generate.
He noted that many mining districts fail to adequately plan for the economic boom that comes with the establishment of a mine, leaving local communities unable to fully benefit from the job and business opportunities.
“Before a company invests a dollar in the economy, it would have done feasibility studies and prepared very well. But we, as resource owners, do not prepare to go into the boom. By the time the mine is about to pour its first gold, we don’t have the skilled workforce, so people from other places take up all the opportunities,” Dr. Manteaw said.
He urged local authorities to develop medium-term plans that account for the presence of the mine and to take steps to integrate the mining operation into the local economy. Furthermore, Dr. Manteaw stressed the importance of training the local workforce, particularly the youth, to ensure they are skilled enough to be employed by the mine.
Even before Cardinal Namdini Mining Limited pours its first gold in the Talensi district by the end of the year, the company had employed 51 percent locals, 38 percent nationals, and 11 percent expatriates. The Co-chair of GHEITI admonished the Talensi district assembly to be proactive by providing scholarships for skills training of the youth of the area to get job opportunities at the company.
As the Namdini and Talensi areas await the start of full gold production later this year, Dr. Manteaw warned against the improper use of revenues derived from mining. He cited inefficiencies in other districts where royalties have been spent on non-essential items such as funeral donations and allowances for assembly members, rather than on sustainable development projects.
“The assemblies must be mindful of how they use their share of mineral royalties. These revenues should be treated as investable income and used to finance local economic development,” Dr. Manteaw said, urging a shift in mindset towards long-term community growth and prosperity.
He also highlighted the risk of communities missing out on long-term benefits if local landowners do not invest wisely. Dr. Manteaw suggested that landowners in mining areas should invest part of their compensation into acquiring equity in the mine, securing benefits for future generations.
With mining activities expanding in Ghana’s northern regions, Dr. Manteaw also called for a national land-use policy to prevent haphazard development. He expressed concerns that without proper land demarcation for agriculture, industry, and mining, valuable agricultural lands may be lost to mining activities, affecting food security.
Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Joshua Asaah|Bolgatanga
