Chamber of Mines wants increase in royalties to communities

Kumasi, July 11, GNA - The Ghana Chamber of Mines has proposed an increase in mineral royalties to mining communities from 10 to 30 per cent.

Mrs Joyce Wireko-Brobbey, Chief Executive of the Chamber, said a review of the payment would ensure that mining becomes the catalyst for the development of mining areas.

She made this known during an interaction between members of the chamber journalists at the Georgia Hotel in Kumasi on Friday. Mrs Wireko-Brobbey called for transparency in the disbursement and utilisation of royalties in beneficiary communities. She said the mining companies were pursuing alternative livelihood programmes to enhance long-term sustainability of projects after mining operations.

Mrs Wireko-Brobbey said the programmes would help the companies to initiated projects that would give direct economic and social benefits to the communities.

They involve support for small, micro and medium enterprises, re-engineering of mined out areas for tourism, acqua-culture and training of the local people in snail and grass cutter rearing among other things.

Mrs Wireko-Brobbey expressed concern about the impact of mining on the environment and said the chamber would support measures aimed at reversing the trend.

The Chief Executive said mining companies have initiated measures aimed at minimising the impact of their activities on the environment. She said records at the Environmental Protection Agency indicated that the mining industry has achieved over 75 per cent compliance with mining environmental regulations and standards in 2002. Mr Randy Barnes, Operations Manager of Resolute Amansie Resource, said the company's reclamation efforts and assistance to the communities was underway.