3,000 jobs Open For Atwima Mponua Youth …As Minister Commissions Community Mining Concessions

Residents of Donkoto within the Atwima Mponua District in the Ashanti Region can now heave a sigh of relief over issues of jobs, following a groundbreaking ceremony to open two mining concessions under the Community Mining Scheme in that area.

The Donkoto Mawaniha Community Mining project, which is one of government’s novel initiative was launched last Wednesday, June 29, by Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, George Mireku-Duker, on behest of the sector minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor.

The two concessions, covering an area of some 40 acres is estimated to create over 3,000 direct and over 500 indirect jobs.

At a colorful ceremony, attended by the chiefs, opinion leaders, the Member of Parliament as well as hundreds of residents, they described the scheme as a savior, particularly for the youth who have been clamoring for jobs for a long time now.

Mireku-Duker, after cutting the tape to signify official take-off of the project, on behalf of government, presented one Mercury-Free Gold Processing Equipment to management of the Donkoto Mawaninha Scheme for their ore processing, in order to limit the environmental hazards created by crude means of ore beneficiation.

George Duker tasked the management and staff of the Scheme to strictly adhere to the safety practices and standard operating procedures as outlined by the Minerals and Mining Regulations, 2012 L. I. 2182 and the Small-Scale and Community Mining Operational Manual.

The Deputy Minister, who is also MP for Tarkwa-Nsuaem in the Western Region, cautioned the management of the scheme, not to engage foreign nationals under any circumstance. According to him, small-scale mining is solely for Ghanaians, as has been established by section 83 of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006, Act 703.

Addressing the gathering, Member of Parliament (MP), Isaac Kwame Asiamah, admonished the people of Donkoto to involve themselves in the scheme and work together in unity, while strictly adhering to sustainable and responsible mining procedures as outlined.

On his part, the District Chief Executive (DCE), Hon. Isaac Kofi Marfo, expressed his profound gratitude to the President, H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for the community mining scheme which seeks to create jobs for the teeming youth through sustainable mining.

Meanwhile, Nana Kwaku Darko III, Nkawie Kontihene and chairperson of the occasion, in his remarks assured the Government of his support and admonished the teeming youth to work assiduously and impact the community positively.

The Deputy Minister was accompanied on the trip by the Technical Director of Mines, Mr. Peter Awuah, Deputy CEO of Minerals Commission, Mr. Samuel Tika, as well as, Mr. Nelson Ahedor, the Director of Small-Scale and other District and Regional officials from Minerals Commission.

Source: theanchorghana