Africa’s Natural Resources Must Benefit Citizens
–Deputy Minister Charges Colleagues
The Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources in charge of Mining has called on colleagues from other African countries to ensure that the exploitation of the various natural resources in their jurisdictions meet the expectation of the citizens.
George Mireku Duker said, as leaders, the continent should not be seen as merely attracting investments, but such investments should yield the necessary benefits to the citizens, who they represent.
“I call on colleague African countries to ensure that, we are not just attracting investments, but investments that will yield the necessary benefit to the citizens of our various countries,” he said.
According to him, the citizenry must derive value along the mining value chain through an effective local content and participation laws and regulations.
“The citizenry must derive value along the mining value chain right from Pre-Feasibility – Prospecting- Exploration – Development through to Marketing and Mine Closure, through effective local content and participation laws and regulations,” he stated.
The Deputy Minister was speaking in Australia, on behalf of the sector minister, during a panel discussion at the 21st edition of African Down Under (ADU) forum, ongoing in Perth, Australia.
The ADU is a leading forum for Australian-African business and government relations, which has grown to become the largest African-focused mining event held outside the African continent.
Other panelists include Australia’s Minister of Mines, Bill Johnston; Australia’s Assistant Foreign Minister, Tim Watts; Burkina Faso’s Minister for Mines and Quarries, Simon Pierre Boussim; Nigeria’s Minister for Solid Minerals Development, Henry Dele Alake, and Uganda’s Minister of Energy and Minerals Development, Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu.
Mr. Duker also delivered a statement, where he echoed Ghana’s stable democracy, rich mining history and continuous mineral discoveries made, key among them being the lithium and other strategic minerals, which will play a critical role in the clean energy campaign.
He also touched on Ghana’s stable legal and fiscal mining regime as additions, which make Ghana the best mining investment destination in Africa.
Several investor-government discussions were held, and he is hopeful that the country will get better opportunities in the coming days.
He was accompanied by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Minerals Commission, Martin Ayisi, as well as Ghana’s High Commissioner to Australia, H. E. Samuel Yao Kumah, and others.
Source: Anchorghana.com
