10 hours ago
At a recent function, the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, promised a changed mining sector where miners would be made millionaires through the application of responsible mining policies. He reiterated once again that the government was committed to ensuring that development in the country's backbone industry, mining, is sustainable at the just-ended National Mining Conference in Accra.
Mining has the potential to uplift our communities and contribute to national growth," Bawumia said. "Our administration is committed to making sure that this wealth, produced by natural resources, translates into benefits in reality for the miners and their families.
He further enumerated a number of steps to be taken for efficiency and sustainability of the mining sector, including effective improvement in regulatory frameworks to attract ethical practices, investment in mining technology, and equally important, training programs for miners to better equip them with the necessary skills. He said they were also committed to making sure the government partners with companies involved in mining-a partnership that creates a better atmosphere of cooperation toward economic development with protection of the environment.
The Vice President also stressed community involvement, saying that mining activities must be done with the involvement of the local people in order for them to benefit from resource extraction. "We will ensure that local communities get a fair share of the revenue that comes from mining, ensuring a more equitable distribution of wealth." He said.
The comments of the Vice President struck a note with many present in the audience, as they were optimistic regarding mining's future with such new policies. In fact, responsible mining can generate jobs, improvement in lifestyles, and economic growth in a non-destructive way, this is said by these stakeholders.
Concluding, Bawumia re-echoed his government's determination to transform Ghana's mining landscape into one that truly puts the interest of its people first, safely protecting the environment. "We will, together, build an industry that enriches not just our nation but creates opportunity for all Ghanaians involved in the mining sector," he said, leaving many with high hopes for a prosperous future.