The Upper East Regional Minister, Donatus Akamugri Atanga, has expressed strong support for deeper collaboration between the region and the Ghana Chamber of Mines, describing it as timely for a region now emerging as a new hub for mining activity. He said the growing interest in exploration across districts requires extensive public education, particularly because mining is relatively new to many communities in the region.
He made these points while responding to the Chamber when it paid him a courtesy call to update him on recent changes within the Chamber and to discuss the extension of the “Purple Peach” Project to the region, an initiative that seeks to support girls with sanitary pads, to enable them stay in school. The Chamber also used the opportunity to outline the growing impact of large-scale mining operations in the north and to highlight emerging opportunities that could accelerate development in the region.
According to the Minister, the local ownership of land and the rapid entry of mining companies mean community responsibilities are changing. He believes residents must move beyond seeing themselves only as labourers and begin to understand their role in facilitating mining activities and supporting structured development. He emphasized that the region lacks broad knowledge of mining laws and constitutional provisions, a gap he says often fuels community resistance when companies begin prospecting.
“As a region, we are privileged to have the Ghana Chamber of Mines to be with us and to share with us what are the issues relating to mining. I think the Upper East Region is a new mining region. And once it’s a new mining region, we need a lot of education as far as mining is concerned.”
“Our forefathers and others were traveling down south to participate, they were not the owners of the lands and so they couldn’t constitute any resistance to anything. Right now, there’s a paradigm shift. We are the owners of the land and the companies are coming to do explorations and mining. Obviously, our responsibility will change. We are no longer going to be only laborers at the mining site or managers, but also to be people who facilitate the activities. So we need to be put on the proper footing,” the Minister said.
Mr Akamugri noted that misunderstandings about land ownership, limited community involvement in the awarding of concessions, and inadequate information flow through assemblies and traditional authorities continue to create tensions in some mining areas. He stressed the need for extensive sensitization before prospecting begins, adding that improved communication would reduce confrontation and build trust between companies and residents.
The Minister also identified reliable power as one of the most critical needs for unlocking the full potential of mining in the region. He welcomed the Chamber’s observations about the importance of stable energy supply and said he intends to push the matter with Members of Parliament and the Energy Ministry.
“Power is the engine of everything. As one of your presenters said, that mining is the basis of everything. Because we are going to farm, you need some equipment. And if you don’t mine, you don’t have the iron ores to manufacture. So most of the things, you have to rely on money. So when you are going to do all those things, power is also relevant.”
With about half of the region’s districts believed to hold gold deposits, he expressed confidence that improved infrastructure, responsible mining practices, and proper regulation could transform the Upper East within the next decade. “If we are able to exploit these resources, as we are talking about the transformation, this region, give us the next 10 years, we’ll be the Dubai of Ghana. Provided we’ll get the responsible companies to come and do proper mining, and then to also ensure that they don’t pollute our environment, and they don’t invite some other vices.”
Furthermore, Mr Akamugri commended mining companies such as Cardinal Namdini Mining Ltd for ongoing infrastructural development and their cooperation with regional authorities, noting recent engagements aimed at easing community agitation and ensuring inclusive agreement processes. He said the long-term benefits of mining, including planned land reclamation and the creation of irrigation opportunities after extraction, make continued dialogue essential.
On social interventions, he welcomed the Chamber of Mines’ interest in supporting menstrual hygiene initiatives under the Purple Peach Project. He said contributions from industry and other organizations would complement provisions made in the national budget and strengthen support for girls across the region.
“I must say that we are highly grateful, and let me sound political because when the NDC and John Dramani Mahama’s chapter one, and then when he talked about providing the sanitary pads, people in Ghana tried to ridicule it, that oh why, and all that kind of thing. But you see, I’m happy because when you have Civil Society Organisations or private entities talking on an issue, it goes deeper, and it touches the people’s hearts more than when you have the politician.”
“I am happy that a private entity like Ghana Chamber of Mines has, I mean, touched it in the same line as the NDC, because you realize that even the current budget that has been read just recently, there are provisions made for that. And so if you are coming to do this exercise, you are coming to help me, and so we should be so happy that you are providing that to help us,” he said.
He also encouraged the Chamber to increase its visits and stakeholder engagements, particularly in districts yet to experience large-scale mining, to prevent the challenges seen in Talensi from recurring elsewhere.
“Don’t let us repeat what is in Talensi. If we are moving to other communities, let’s do the sensitization in those areas so that what we are seeing in Talensi here won’t move to any other place. We should not encounter such problems again. That is what I will request.”
He assured the Chamber of the region’s readiness to cooperate fully as mining expands, and said the leadership would intervene whenever misunderstandings arise between companies and communities.
Source: a1radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Gifty Eyram Kudiabor|Bolgatanga
