The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources responsible for Mining, Mr George Mireku Duker, has reaffirmed the government’s determination to create a serene and impactful small-scale mining sector that operates in accordance with international standards.
He added that the government aims to transition the nation’s small-scale mining industry from simply producing mineral resources to value addition through the establishment of refineries
Mr Duker said this in a presentation on the state of Artisanal Small-Scale Mining in the country at the Ghana Mining Expo, last Friday in Takoradi
He listed the achievements of the sector as job creation, support for the government’s Gold for Oil effort and a variety of socioeconomic projects.
Mr Duker stated that the sector is crucial to the nation’s economic, adding that the government is still carrying out interventions to deal with the serious problem of illegal mining, known as galamsey.
He outlined the establishment of community mining schemes, Operation Halt II, facilitating funding for licensed small-scale mining companies and recruiting river wardens, among others as interventions the government has introduced to streamline the sector.
The fourth edition of the Ghana Mining Expo is themed “Sustainable Mineral Resources Development and Well-Being of Communities.”
The event provides a platform for discussions on the development of the mining sector, sustainable practices and the well-being of mining communities.
Irene Wirekoaa Osei, ISD
