Vice President and flagbearer of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has admitted that Ghana has not benefited from mining activities as much as the country should.
He said although mining activities have taken place for decades in Ghana, but the benefits of the mining to enhance development and improve the standard of living of the citizens has been diverted for different things.
“Although mining activities have taken place for decades in Ghana, the nation has not benefited as much as it should,” Dr. Bawumia said during various engagements with Chiefs, the youth and stakeholders in the Jirapa, Sissala East and West Constituencies.
He emphasized the need for the nation to adopt a new strategy to ensure that mining activities in the country reflect in the pockets of the citizens and enhance development.
He said his administration will introduce new mining policies that will create more jobs and wealth for Ghanaians to promote national development.
He indicated that his new mining policies would include the establishment of a Mining Development Bank and establishment of plant pools in mining areas to promote shared user facilities, among others.
“I explained my new mining policies, including the establishment of a Mining Development Bank, resourcing the Geological Survey Department to undertake major exploration, ensuring 100% Ghanaian ownership of proven reserves earmarked for small-scale mining, establishment of plant pools in mining areas to promote shared user facilities, decentralizing the mining licensing regime to all mining districts, and promotion of licenced community mining schemes to create more jobs and wealthy Ghanaians. Indeed, it is Possible!” He promised.
One of the things the NPP government under the leadership of president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo vowed to do is to end illegal mining activities popularly known as ‘galamsey’ in the country.
However, his policies and other measures such as establishment of Operation Vanguard and others have failed.
