9500 Jobs For Amansie West Residents

…As 3 Community Mining Schemes Take Off

Three Community Mining Scheme (CMS) concessions, commissioned at Moseaso-Abransie, Yawkrom-Asamang and Banko-Camp in the Amansie West District in the Ashanti Region, are expected to create about 9,500 direct and indirect job opportunities for the residents in the area.

They were officially commissioned yesterday Wednesday, July 26, 2023 by the Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources in-charge of mining, George Mireku Duker, on behalf of the sector minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor.

Delivering a speech at the ceremony, Mr. Duker said he will continue his advocacy for responsible small-scale mining, as it creates numerous job opportunities for Ghanaians.

According to him, the 9,500 employment opportunities, which will be opened to the residents of the three communities and their environs, will add to the more than one million jobs already created for Ghanaians in the small-scale mining industry.

Mr. Duker juxtaposed the over one million jobs to the paltry 30,000 jobs offered by the large-scale mining companies, questioning the stance taken by a section of the public against the small-scale mining sector that has historically created socio-economic doors for Ghanaians.

While touting the lasting and beneficial impact of the community mining scheme as a key tool in eliminating poverty in mining communities and creating local giants in the mining industry, the deputy minister rallied the chiefs and people of Manso-Nkwanta district and Ghanaians in general to stand up against mining activities which are inimical to the country’s waterbodies and the environment.

He belabored the point that the anti-galamsey fight, being championed by government, requires the collaboration of Ghanaians, hence the need for all to come and board.

Commending the two companies for developing structures which are indicative of their willingness to adhere to the dictates of the CMS manual, Mireku Duker hammered on the importance of unity and peaceful coexistence between the companies and the communities as “ingredients necessary for successful operation.”

He urged the firms to undertake various developmental projects in the respective communities and play their role in the growth of the community.

This, he reckons, will lead to lasting peace and unity between the companies and the chiefs.

Mr. Duker leveraged on the platform to condemn illegal mining along the Black Volta, stating that measures are already in motion to weed out the miners and protect the river.

NiiLartehOllenu, the district chief executive of Amansie West, commended the ministry and the Minerals Commission for the innovation which he says will drastically reduce the unemployment rate in the district.

On his part, George Obeng Takyi, the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Manso Nkwanta constituency, stressed that the small-scale mining is the preserve of Ghanaians and that government has taken a great step in ensuring that the citizens benefit directly from the blessings of nature.

He promised to play his role in ensuring that there is strict adherence to the mining protocols, as it will encourage government to open more concessions and employ many more of his constituents.

Source: Anchorghana.com