Mining activities need to be properly regulated

A member of the Minerals Commission Board, Mr. Awuah Nyamekye, has said there was the need for all to accept to work together to ensure that the social and environmental impacts resulting from mining activities were properly regulated and managed.

He said there should be active collaboration to make sure that mining was carried out in a more responsible manner.

He was speaking at a two-day sensitization workshop on the minerals and mining regulations at Bibiani in the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai District.

It was the fourth in a series of nationwide forums held to educate and help stakeholders to have better understanding of the new regulations enacted in June.

Mr. Nyamekye noted the significant contribution of mining to the nation’s economy and said the new laws were meant to, among other benefits, strengthen the “local content in our mining industry.”

The sector, in year 2011, contributed 27.6 per cent to the total government revenue.

It also accounted for 45 per cent of total merchandise exports during the period.

Ghanaians, he said, should not only be employed and trained to assume managerial positions in the mining companies to take over from the expatriate staff but that the local industries must also have similar opportunities as the other global businesses to participate in various procurement processes.