WR Minister calls for doubling of production of all mining activities – Skyy Power FM

The Western Regional Minister Dr Kwabena Okyere Darko Mensah is calling for a doubling of Production in all mining activities since the only way out of poverty is wealth creation through increased productivity

He says without the mineral Gold, our quick recovery after the covid crisis would not have been possible. 

The Minister said this at the 2023 Gold Mining Expo in Takoradi with a focus on Sustainable Mineral Resources Development and the Well-Being of Mining communities.

He said, “In the same way, lithium is fast becoming a major focus for exploitation with the need to capture value along the entire value.”

“As we gather here again this year, I have no doubts that we all recognize the significance of the mining sector in driving economic growth, creating employment opportunities, and contributing to our nation’s development,” he added.

He said the 2023 Mining Week seeks the collaboration of all stakeholders to analyse the state of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of mining companies in Ghana, their impact on the host communities, and proffer the best ways to regulate mining companies to commit to offering transformational CSR interventions as a means of creating generational prosperity for host mining communities.

The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Abu Jinapor at the event said they have through a public-private partnership established a gold refinery and are working with the Ministry of Finance, Bank of Ghana, Chamber of Mines and others to secure a London Bullion Market Association to enable Ghana easily trade gold in the international market.

He said, “As you know, we have established the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC), and the Ghana Integrated Iron and Steel Development Corporation (GIISDEC), to promote and develop integrated aluminium and iron and steel industries in the country. With an estimated bauxite resource base of nine hundred million metric tonnes (900,000,000Mt), developing an integrated aluminium industry is sine qua non for the substantial growth of our national economy, thereby enabling us to create the thousands of jobs needed to unleash prosperity for the mass of our citizens. We are, therefore, working with all stakeholders to ensure that in the not-too-distant future, we do not export bauxite and iron ore in their raw state.”

The Minister added that, for the green minerals, including lithium, the Cabinet of President Akufo-Addo is currently considering, a policy proposal for the exploitation, management and utilisation of these minerals.

He said their goal is to ensure that, as much as possible, they retain a significant proportion of the value chain of these future and other critical minerals in the country.