Mr George Mireku Duker, Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, hailed Dr Mahamudu Bawumia's small-scale mining policy as a transformative force for the mining industry. Speaking at a media engagement in Accra, he provided insights into the policy's objectives and strategies, emphasizing its potential to revolutionize the sector.
The policy focuses on two key areas: first, ushering Ghana into a “Golden age” by maximizing benefits from natural resources like gold, lithium, and bauxite. Second, ensuring value addition and Ghanaian ownership through a new paradigm in natural resource contracts.
Mr Mireku Duker highlighted the 18-point policy document's aim to formalize, regularize, and regulate environmentally sustainable small-scale mining. He stressed Dr Bawumia's commitment to harnessing the socio-economic potential of the sector, aiming to exponentially increase the one million job opportunities it currently provides.
Quoting Dr Bawumia, Mr Mireku Duker underscored the policy's goal to support small-scale mining companies in growing into larger entities by providing capacity building and facilitating access to financing for equipment acquisition.
Under Dr Bawumia's presidency, there would be a robust link within the entire value chain of the small-scale mining sector, enabling miners to sell their gold to the Bank of Ghana, thus becoming part of the country's gold reserves.
Continuing the decentralization program initiated by the Akufo-Addo-led government, Mr Mireku Duker assured that the Minerals Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency would have a presence in all mining districts to ensure the smooth administration of mining activities.
He also pledged to scale up the Community Mining Scheme, register all small-scale miners with the National Small Scale Miners Association, and deepen decentralization efforts of regulatory bodies like the Minerals Commission and EPA.
Mr. Mireku Duker expressed confidence that Dr. Bawumia's administration would significantly reduce illegal mining activities through innovative policies and crackdown measures.
In conclusion, he urged Ghanaians, especially those in the small-scale mining sector, to trust Dr. Bawumia to protect their jobs and address industry challenges effectively.
