Maiden national mining forum held

0

The first edition of Ghana?s Mining Forum has been held in Accra with a call on government to provide a platform for stakeholder engagement in the effective management of resource.

Giving his welcoming address, Chairman of the National Mining Forum, Fred Ohene-Kena, commended the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Hon Mike Hammah, for his support for the realization of the forum.

Addressing the audience, he said, ?it is worth noting that the world?s economy is growing at a rate over 3% with the increasing demand for resources by large and even emerging countries to support global growth and prosperity. Countries with large or small economies face an uncertain future due to chronic shortages of usable and clean natural resources. Community mining industry leadership are expected to work together to remedy the near failure to position natural resources industry to serve society in its desperate need to meet its demand.?

Stressing on the issue, he continued by saying that, ?it is worth noting that increasing mining depths with surface exploration infrastructure has caused increases in cost of operation. Input cost of commodities, energy in mining and exploration have sky rocketed. More materials expected to be mined and depth of mining is expected to increase.?

Also he noted that guiding and supporting communities through their leaders to receive the benefits of mining activities must henceforth remain a vital aspect of their contribution to society in a major way. Also, safety improvement measures must remain hallmark to society through their own efforts at mining operations, discipline and controls.

He emphasized that their main aim is to pioneer activities that will enable them deliver on the needs of the society where mining operations take place.

Mr. Ohene-Kena admitted that, government has a critical role to play in terms of formulating policies, legislature and guidelines to regulate the industry. However, government cannot do this in isolation. He remarked that there needs to be active collaboration with other stakeholders to enable them accord the process of their required support, constructive criticism and proposals to ensure that the goal of sustainable development is not only achieved, but seen to be achieved.

The comparative advantage that Ghana has in terms of favorable geological potential for minerals, stable political environment as well as a relatively well developed infrastructure could be transformed into a real competitive advantage that would ensure that Ghana derives the maximum benefit from its mineral resources, he pointed out, adding that this is Ghana?s agenda for sustainable mineral development.

STORY: PRISCILLA MAAME ESI ESAABA MENSAH, GIJ INTERN

View the original article here

Send your news stories to [email protected] Follow News Ghana on Google News

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here