By Felix Cofie
The Atwimanso Community in the Amansie South District of the Ashanti Region came to a standstill on Thursday, June 22, as hundreds of residents from the community and nearby towns thronged the town with great excitement to welcome a responsible and sustainable mining innovation that is set to create 2000 direct jobs for residents of the community.
It was an atmosphere of exhilaration as Chiefs, the District Chief Executive (DCE), the MP for the area, and residents joined the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources in charge of Mines, George Mireku Duker, and some Officials from the Ministry as well as the Minerals Commission to perform the official launching of the Atwimanso Community Mining Scheme.
Addressing a gathering of Chiefs and residents, Mr. Mireku Duker rejected claims that the Community Mining Scheme (CMS) has not been embraced by all Ghanaians.
He emphasised that the CMS, which is a community-centred mining module that promotes local participation to responsibly harness Ghana’s mineral resources, has so far been a success as Ghanaians, particularly those in mining communities, have taken keen interest in it.
While commending the large-scale mining companies for accepting to cede parts of their concession for the Atwimanso Community Mining Scheme, Mr. Mireku Duker reiterated government’s decision not to ban small-scale mining operations in the country, pointing out that the contributions from small-scale mining have helped Ghana reclaim its position as Africa’s biggest gold producer.
The sector, he indicated, has employed One Million people directly”.
Laying emphasis on the Key role the CMS plays in advancing the socio-economic development of Ghanaians. He noted that “the initiative is one of the surest ways for government to actualize its goal of raising local champions in the mining industry”.
The Deputy Minister urged management of the Atwimanso CMS to adhere strictly to the laws governing the establishment of the CMS and warned that government, through the Minerals Commission, will not hesitate to withdraw the operational licence and prosecute officials and staff who are found to act in contravention of the law.
He emphasised that the Atwimanso CMS is the only official scheme being launched in the Community and warned them against operating in ways not sanctioned by the Ministry.
He announced that government will continue to set up more Community Mining Schemes in areas which are suitable for Small-Scale Mining.
The Member of Parliament for Amansie South, who also doubles as the Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, Yaw Frimpong, commended the Sector Minister, the Ministry, and the traditional authorities in the area for the establishment of the CMS in the community.
Mr. Yaw Frimpong also used the opportunity to preach against illegal mining (galamsey), urging his constituents to stand up and fight the menace.
The DCE of the area, Mr. Clement Opoku Gyamfi, warned the residents against taking advantage of the CMS to undertake illegal mining activities.
He was also grateful to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources for heeding their call for the establishment of CMS in the area.