Liberian Delegation Arrives To Understudy Ghana’s Mining Industry

…After Earlier Visit By Burkina Faso, Zambia, South Africa and Others

A high-level delegation from the Republic of Liberia, are currently in the country to understudy Ghana’s mining industry, with a special interest on the small-scale mining sector which is fast developing.

The delegation, which is being led by Liberia’s Minister for Mines and Energy, Wilmot J. M. Paye, were received at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources on Thursday, March 14, 2024 by the Deputy Minister in charge of Mines, George Mireku Duker, on behalf of the sector minister.

The latest arrival by the West African country team, follows previous visit made by their compatriots from Burkina Faso, Zambia, South Africa and others, to understudy Ghana’s extractive sector, where they expressed the need to collaborate and share ideas to help harness resources as Africans.

The Liberian team, who are in the country at the instance of Goldridge Refinery Limited, a leading exporter of gold from Ghana, are expected to visit and engage all mining agencies under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, to tap into their vast knowledge and experiences.

They will also study Ghana’s mining regulation regime and tap into the country’s policies and interventions, which are making the sector a premier destination for investment in Africa in recent days.

Leader of the delegation, Wilmot Paye, who spoke during the meeting at the ministry, displayed a committed spirit to change the fortunes of Liberia’s Mining Sector to the benefit of its citizens upon their return, based on the lessons learnt.

Other members of the delegation include; Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Goldridge Refinery, Dr Sledge Duodo, Chairman of Liberia’s Senate Committee on Lands, Mines, Energy and Natural Resources – Senator Simeon B. Taylor, the Senior Economic Advisor to President Joseph Boakai, Mr Sahr Johnny, the Advisor to the President on National Infrastructure, Mr Joe Gene Mulbah, among others.

On his part, Mr Duker, took the delegation through a brief presentation on Ghana’s Mining industry and assured the team of all the necessary support to enable them engage all the Mining Agencies under the Lands Ministry for this knowledge-sharing trip.

During these encounters, the Deputy Minister, who has deep knowledge on the extractive industry, details the state of Ghana’s mining sector and the efforts by government to develop it.

Mr Duker, outlined the enormous benefits the country derives from the mining sector, especially the small-scale mining industry.

He noted that inasmuch as the large-scale mining sector makes significant contribution to the country’s economy with over 300,000 jobs created, the small-scale mining, which currently provides direct employment to nearly one million Ghanaians, has the prospect of becoming the backbone of the Ghanaian economy.

Mr Duker said, it is for this reason the government of President Akufo-Addo, has taken a special interest in the sector with an undying resolve to rid it of the challenges.

This commitment of the government to cleanse the small-scale mining sector, he explained has led to the establishment of the Operation Halt II taskforce, which patrols the river bodies and crackdown on all illegal mining activities.

“Through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the government has also introduced the Community Mining Scheme (CMS) which is a more sustainable and responsible mining module”, he stated during earlier visit by eight-member delegation from South Africa.

The CMS, Mr Duker said is reserved for only Ghanaians with the objective to raising local champions in the mining industry.

The Deputy Minister, however, elaborated that these policies will not yield the needed result if government does not collaborate effectively with the public and communities.

In view of this, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, has embarked on a community sensitization program to get Ghanaians to appreciate the issues in the small-scale mining sector and support government in the fight.

Source:Anchorghana.com