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Gov’t developing framework to ensure value addition to minerals before export

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The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Benito Owusu Bio has revealed that, Government is formulating better policies including a separate Legislative Instrument (LI) on local content for the mining sector to ensure Ghana gets the needed benefits from its Natural resources.

Mr. Benito Bio disclosed this during the climax of the 2019 Inter-Mines First Aid and Safety Competition held in Kenyasi No. 2 in the Asutifi North district of the Ahafo Region.

The Deputy Minister said, the Government is developing a holistic framework to ensure value is added to all minerals produced in Ghana before export so as to earn increased benefits.

Talking to Radio Ghana, the CEO of Mines Safety, Kofi Agyei said the event was to educate the mine workers and the community to be able to safeguard their lives from accidents as well as the proper administration of first Aid when accidents occur.

Speaking at the event, the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Benito Owusu Bio mentioned the establishment of the Ghana integrated Aluminum Development Corporation, (GIADEC) and the Ghana Integrated Iron and Steel Corporation (GISDEC) among others as major moves by the Government to ensure the country benefits meaningfully from its natural resources.

”As the Mining Landscape evolves, Government continues to formulate policies and strategies to position mining as a catalyst for transformation and accelerated development through its linkage to other sectors of the economy’’ he said.

He added that, a consultant is currently working on the Supplier Development for the Mining sector to upscale the capacities of the local suppliers of mining inputs to derive the anticipated benefits from mining.

The Deputy Minister also urged the mining companies to strictly adhere to Environmental safety regulations and encouraged them to rally behind the Government so as to broaden the scope of the local content for the mining sector to attract more local players.

The CEO of Ghana Chamber of Mines, Sulemanu Koney explained why most mining towns in Ghana are not as well developed compared to their counterparts in other countries such as South Africa.

According to him, Johannesburg was deliberately planned to create a modern city on the back of mining and showed optimism that, the inauguration of Local Development Committees and Mine Community Development Schemes will be a major turning point in the mining towns and their inhabitants.

The event was attended by various Stakeholders in the mining sector, Chiefs, Departmental Heads and Community members.

Story filed by Dauda Zul-kiful

 

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