The Ghana Chamber of Mines (GCM) has paid a courtesy call on the Upper East Regional Minister, Donatus Akamugri Atanga, to update him on recent leadership changes within the Chamber and to discuss plans to extend the “Purple Peach” Project to the region—an initiative that seeks to support girls with sanitary pads to enable them to stay in school. The Chamber also outlined the growing impact of large-scale mining operations in northern Ghana and highlighted emerging opportunities that could accelerate development in the region.
During the meeting, the Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber, Engineer Dr. Ken Ashigbey, explained that the leadership changes form part of a broader effort to deepen collaboration with government, host communities and other regional stakeholders. He noted that the visit was also meant to acknowledge the visible transformation taking place in the Upper East Region, which he partly attributed to the activities of responsible large-scale mining companies.
“I think one of the things I noticed is that Bolga is still clean. I think that’s something that we still can celebrate, but another thing that I am seeing in the very recent past is you see some transformation beginning to happen around Bolga. And again, if you go to Sunyani now, you also see that transformation happening there as well, and the common thread in all of that is a responsible large-scale mine,” he said.
Using the example of Cardinal Namdini Mining Ltd., a GCM member company, Ing. Dr. Ashigbey said the mine has invested heavily in its establishment and continues to make significant contributions to surrounding communities. According to him, these contributions include job creation, infrastructure improvements and support for the national gold reserve programme.
“Cardinal Namdini, in about three years of constructing their mine, spent roughly $500 million. There’s a lot of contribution that is being made to the community around us,” he added.
He further emphasised that the partnership between the state and private mining companies remains central to Ghana’s mining model, adding that the contribution of large-scale miners—including their support for the Bank of Ghana’s gold reserves—has helped stabilise the national currency and strengthen the broader economy.
Another issue raised during the engagement was the challenge mining companies face in accessing land for prospecting. The Chamber noted that while current operations have secure concessions, long-term sustainability requires continuous exploration. Ing. Dr. Ashigbey appealed to the Regional Minister to support efforts to engage communities on making land available for prospecting, stressing that responsible exploration does not harm communities and is essential for ensuring a pipeline of future mining projects.
He also highlighted the significant tax contributions made by the mining industry, stating that responsible mining companies collectively paid billions in taxes and invested heavily in local content. He indicated that in the Upper East Region, a substantial portion of these taxes now comes from operations that did not exist before the arrival of Cardinal Namdini Mining Ltd.
“I’m sure if you speak to your GRA in this region, the contribution that Cardinal Namdini is making is substantial. Last year, we paid GH¢17.7 billion as responsible miners as the whole mining industry, and I’m sure there’s a sizable portion that also came from the Upper East, which would not have been happening before Cardinal came. We also spent 3.5 billion dollars in local content, which is value business that comes into this community,” he said.
Beyond mining operations, the delegation discussed the Purple Peach Project, which focuses on menstrual health education and support for adolescent girls. Ing. Dr. Ashigbey said the Chamber sees the Upper East Region as a priority area for expanding the initiative, which aims to reduce school absenteeism linked to period poverty. The project includes menstrual hygiene education as well as the provision of sanitary products and support systems for girls. He expressed confidence that the initiative would empower young women, enhance gender inclusion and contribute to broader community development.
“For us as the mining industry, we are pushing the whole conversation about gender inclusion. We are not only teaching them about menstrual health and how to take care of themselves—we are also giving them more than just the bait to fish, but a bit of the fish as well to support them in the process. It’s a very important and symbolic project for us. Our hope is that once we have done it, partners like yourself and others will follow through to support the girls,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Chamber reaffirmed its commitment to working with the Regional Minister and other local stakeholders to unlock the region’s full potential. It stressed that responsible mining practices, strong community partnerships and targeted social interventions could collectively transform the Upper East Region and open new economic opportunities.
In response, the Regional Minister said the region values opportunities to engage with the Ghana Chamber of Mines, especially when such interactions help communities better understand mining activities and the need for cooperation to drive development. He noted that the visit was both timely and appreciated by the regional leadership.
Source: a1radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Gifty Eyram Kudiabor|Bolgatanga
