The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, in collaboration with the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners (GNASSM), has held the first ever Responsible Small Scale Miners awards at the Alisa Hotel in Accra.
The event, which was held under the theme, “Promoting Responsible and Sustainable Mining,” was to honour and celebrate players in the small scale mining industry, who adhere to responsible mining practices within the remit of the regulatory framework.
The Award ceremony is one of the measures being adopted by the Ministry to sanitise the small scale mining industry.
Speaking at the event, the sector Minister, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, acknowledged the contribution of small scale mining to the national economy and reiterated government’s position on promoting responsible small scale mining.
He revealed that the Ministry was working with ADB Bank to establish a Minerals Development Unit at the Bank to provide direct financial support to small scale miners.
He further stated that the first state-owned gold refinery, established through a Public Private Partnership between the Precious Minerals Marketing Company (PMMC) and Royal Ghana Gold Limited will be operational next year, and the small scale mining industry will serve as a source of raw material for this refinery.
The Ministry is also working with Gold Coast Refinery, to revamp, and secure for it, a London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) Certification, to ensure gold refined in Ghana are traded easily on the international market.
On his part, the General Secretary of GNASSM, Mr. Godwin Armah, who spoke on behalf of the Association, commended the Ministry and the Minster for the work they are doing to sanitise the industry.
He bemoaned the activities of some small scale miners, which has resulted in small scale mining being associated with environmental destruction.
He pledged the support of the Association to the Government to bring sanity to the industry.
He also called on the Government to undertake more geological investigations, to assist members of the Association in their operations.
The Vice President, H.E. Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who was the keynote speaker at the event, thanked GNASSM for their cooperation with the Government on its policies to streamline the industry, even though some of them were affected by these policies.
He was optimistic, that the awards will motivate more people to continue to do the right thing.
Daakye Mining Enterprise, a mining company in Wassa Gyapa in the Amenfi East District of the Western Region, picked the most prestigious award of the night as the Best Small Scale Miner, and was awarded with a mercury-free gold processing equipment known as Gold Kacha, worth One Hundred and Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars (USD125,000).
The Most Promising Small Scale Miner went to Bright Kwabena Obeng of Beloved Mining Enterprise, while Mr. Clemence Adzormahene picked up the Best District Officer award.
The Ministry also presented a Special award to Omanhene Kwabena Asante of Adom FM/TV for his continuous support and advocacy on responsible small scale mining.
Present at the event were the Chief of Staff of the Office of the President, Leadership of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Mines and Energy as well as captains of the mining industry.
Source: MyPublisher24.com
