Mr. Samuel Boakye Pobee, Managing Director of AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine, has called on the government to regulate small-scale and community mining effectively to absorb more graduates into the sector. He believes this move will create job opportunities vital for upcoming graduates and positively impact the mining industry's image.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Mr. Pobee emphasized the need to rebrand small-scale mining as a professional and legitimate sector, distinct from illegal “galamsey.” He proposed leveraging students' expertise from institutions like the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) to enhance small-scale mining practices.
Mr. Pobee highlighted the saturation of employment opportunities within large mining companies due to an increase in mining graduates. He emphasized that job creation in the mining industry often occurs when new projects are initiated or existing ones expand.
To address this challenge, Mr. Pobee suggested that Ghana should focus on opening more mines, similar to the approach adopted by Australia. He emphasized the importance of attracting global investors by maximizing margins while creating job opportunities through regulated small-scale and community mining initiatives.
