Former CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Dr. Toni Aubynn
The former CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Dr. Toni Aubynn, has commended President John Dramani Mahama, for his clarity of vision for the mining sector of Ghana.
Dr. Aubynn was speaking to the media on the sidelines of the ongoing International Conference on Mining Investment in Africa, commonly known as the Mining Indaba, in Cape Town, South Africa.
Dr. Aubynn, who is also a former CEO of Ghana’s Minerals Commission and the spokesperson on mining for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) during the just-ended national elections, indicated that the vision of President Mahama and his new NDC government is to ensure responsible and sustainable mining, which benefits all the stakeholders without compromising the integrity of the environment.
He clarified that Ghana was open for both domestic and international investment in the mining sector which will ensure equitable benefits to Ghanaians and other stakeholders.
He indicated that the swiftness with which the president has organized his key team members was a clear sign of a president who is in for serious business.
Aubynn said, “Never in the history of the Fourth Republic has any president assembled his key management team in such a record time.”
He described the team so far assembled by President Mahama as “solid and formidable.”
Dr. Toni Aubynn clarified the issue of whether the government would revoke all mining licenses issued by the erstwhile NPP government and described it as a misinterpretation by a section of the media from a recent speech by the president when he swore in some Ministers of State.
“I do not know where this misinterpretation is coming from,” said Aubynn. “The president was very clear that he would not compromise on any form of mining in river bodies and forest reserves. He said he would revoke licenses granted under LI 2462, which was passed under the NPP government, under which several licenses were granted. It is these licenses which would be revoked and not necessarily all licenses granted during the eight years of the last government. I can’t find the ambiguity here,” Dr. Aubynn wondered.
On illegal small-scale mining, Dr. Aubynn was certain that the system will be sanitized to ensure that mining is done responsibly to create jobs without compromising the integrity of the environment.
He indicated the new Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has reiterated that through the Blue Water and Tree for Life initiatives, the legacy mining-impacted challenges would be addressed.
Dr. Aubynn sees the attempt to address the legacy-impacted river bodies and lands as an opportunity to create more jobs for the communities impacted by galamsey through tree planting and river guard jobs.
The Mining Indaba is the most prestigious mining investment event on the continent of Africa.
The annual international event held in Cape Town, South Africa, attracts key players along the value chain of the mining industry, including governments, investors, and mining companies.
This year’s event is estimated to attract about 10,000 participants from all over the world.
The week-long conference was opened on Monday, February 3, by the Minister of Minerals and Petroleum Resources of South Africa, Gwede Mantashe.
