A Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, George Mireku Duker, has called on major mining concession owners who want to cede portions of their concession to the community mining scheme to reach out to the Ministry to help create more decent jobs for the teeming youth.
Mr. Duker said this while inaugurating the Akyemfo Community Mining Scheme and District Mining Committees in the Aowin Municipality.
The scheme is estimated to employ about 5,000 Ghanaians.
“The Akyemfo Community Scheme is a concession covering 25 acres, and it is expected to create 5,000 direct jobs. If carried out properly, the operations here should be able to generate a huge economic impact by creating a lot of indirect avenues of Mine Support Service… We call on all concessionaires who want to cede part of their portfolio to support this important job creation venture of government, to approach the Ministry and Minerals Commission. I am calling on all stakeholders in the mining districts of Ghana, to aggressively pursue the Community Mining Scheme Program,” he said.
To enhance the efficiency and productivity of the Community Mining Scheme, the Deputy Lands and Natural Resources Minister announced that the government is going to support the Community Mining Scheme with professional geologists and mining engineers to assist their operations for better yield.
While calling for Community Mining Scheme beneficiaries to strictly adhere to health and safety as well as sustainable mining practices, Mr. Duker, however, warned foreigners from engaging in Community Mining Scheme as the law regulating it makes it strictly for indigenes.
“Foreigners are not allowed to work on this Community Mining Site. It is illegal as backed by Regulation 83 of Minerals and Mining Act, 2006, Act 703. Again, the amended Minerals and Mining Act, 2019, Act 995, Section 3 forbids Non-Ghanaians involvement in Small-Scale Mining. When caught, it will attract imprisonment of between 20-25 years and/or fines. More so, Section 5 of the above Act forbid Ghanaians from aiding foreigners to engage in Small Scale Mining as one could face imprisonment of 15-25 years and/or fines when caught“, he noted.
George Mireku Duker after inaugurating the six-member Aowin District Mining Committee in line with section 92 of Act 703 tasked members led by the MCE of Aowin Municipal Assembly to ensure that responsible and sustainable small-scale mining is undertaken in the Municipality.
He further proceeded to inaugurate the Wassa Amenfi Central District Mining Committee in the Western Region.