Revamp economy - GMWU tells gov’t

The Ghana Mineworkers’ Union (GMWU) has urged government to use the concession of the AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) that was recently released to the State to revamp the economies of the local communities.

It would be recalled that on 9th March, 2016, AGA, in a statement, confirmed the release of 60 percent of its concession to the Government of Ghana.

GAWU, in a statement signed by its General Secretary, Prince William Ankrah, said government must seize the opportunity to develop the communities in which AGA operates.

It stated: “As a union, we would like the government to be firm, fair and transparent, as it prepares to invite investors, especially small-scale miners to develop the concession released by AGA.”

The statement further indicated that the government should invite the investors to boost economic activities for sustained growth in the beneficiary communities.

It however advised government to avoid committing similar mistakes which has left Obuasi and other mining towns underdeveloped.

Suggestion

The union advised government not to give out the concession based on political affiliations.

“We should bear in mind that any partisan consideration in awarding the concession will not serve the national good.”

It therefore asked government to, as a matter of urgency, constitute a team of experts to advise it on the best way to utilize the concession and entrust it into the hands of committed investors with proven track-record of doing business in the mining sector after due diligence.

It added that “we therefore propose the institutionalization of an integrated development plan for the management of mining concession to boost the local economy of mining towns in a sustainable manner.”

Such a plan should among others give priority to building the capacity of our small-scale miners so that they can become captains of the mining industry tomorrow, it said.

The sad state of affairs of infrastructural deficit, like poor road network, poor township layout and lack of sustained economic activities in mining towns should give way to a new dawn of development with vibrant economy.”

Meanwhile, GAWU has appealed to government to tackle the menace of illegal mining across the country.