The Parliamentary Select Committe on Mines and Energy are embarking on a two day tour in some mining firms in the Tarkwa Nsuem Municipality in the Western Region.
The tour has so far seen the members of the Committee visit the Ghana Manganese Company at Nsuta, AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mines and Goldfieds Mines among others.
The Vice Chair of the Mines and Energy Committee and Member of Parliament, (MP) for Tarkwa Nsuem Constituency, George Mireku Duker said the move is to afford members of the Committee an insight into the mining operation, learn about their challenges and also find ways to address them.
However, players are calling on policy makers to help address the high cost of power.
The first port of call was the Ghana Manganese Company where it came to the fore that although the company has been in existence for over a century, it still lacks a smelter to process the ore from the Mines hence it is shipped to China for processing.
The Chief Operation Officer of the Ghana Manganese Company Benjamin Atsu Quarshie explaining why this has delayed said the high cost of power has been the main challenge.
He however, noted that the company is awaiting a feasibility studies report from the Sector Ministry in order to chart a way forward.
Mr. Atsu Quarshie also indicated that the delay in fixing railway lines in the Municipality is greatly affecting cost of operation.
He stressed that the company has no choice than to transport the ore by road adding that although the company signed a 10 million dollar deal with the Ghana Railway Company, work is yet to commence.
At AngloGold Iduapriem Mines, Acting Managing Director, Stephen Asante Yamoah said operations has been successful this year despite some earlier setbacks.
He announced that the company seeks to expand its operations and maintain a healthy industrial environment.
The tour is being facilitated by the Ghana Chamber of Mines in collaboration with the Journalist for Business Advocacy.
Story filed by Mercy Darko
