Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has disclosed the vision of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is to make Ghana the mining hub of Africa.
The President, he said, wishes to make Ghana the centre of all mining and mining-related activities, from exploration to downstream production, and from research to innovation.
According to him, this vision, however, requires the state to adapt and adopt the latest technology and innovations to enhance the outcomes of investment in the sector to achieve long term growth, profitability and sustainability for all stakeholders.
Hon. Abu Jinapor was speaking at an event in South Africa on Wednesday 11th May 2022 on the topic “Next Generation Mining in Africa – Australia as Partner.”
He observed that the rapid evolution of technology and innovation in resource exploitation requires resource-host nations to strike the right partnerships to ensure that, from exploration through development to the mining phase, the right strategies are adopted to minimize cost and environmental impacts, whilst, at the same time, optimising beneficiation and sustainability along the value chain.
He argued that to minimize the negative impact of these new technologies, industry players, working with the government, must, as a matter of urgency, ensure that local stakeholders have the necessary skills for the new technologies present.
“There must be a shared understanding of the skills required for mining communities to thrive, and the mining companies and government must collaborate to ensure that the skills are available in the communities,” he said.
Ghana, he said, has made headway in this enterprise and is poised to diversify its mineral resources base by exploiting other minerals like iron ore and lithium.
According to him, with the evolution of electric vehicles to replace fossil-fuel-dependent ones and their undesirable environmental impacts, lithium and other battery minerals and metals have become even more critical than ever.
He averred that the lithium industry, from mining to production and assembling of batteries, will grow to some US$1.1 trillion by 2035.
“Ongoing exploration in Ghana shows an initial mineral resource estimation of 14.5 million tonnes of lithium oxide, containing some 189,000 tonnes of Lithium.”
“We are ready to partner with the private sector to develop this industry through new technologies,” he said.
Mr. Jinapor noted that the government is committed to value addition in diversifying her natural resource base to ensure the ministry has linkages to other sectors of the economy.
He said, “We have, therefore, established, by Acts of Parliament, the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC), and the Ghana Integrated Iron and Steel Development Corporation (GIISDEC), to build in our country, integrated aluminium and iron and steel industries, respectively.”
“Both Corporations are engaging investors to mine and refine our bauxite and iron ore deposits, to produce aluminium, iron and steel in Ghana.”
“Our strategy is to transform mining into a catalyst for industrialisation and diversification of our economy, and translate the minerals mined into wealth to benefit the larger populace as optimally as possible, whilst, at the same time, ensuring best returns to investors,” he added.
According to him, with Ghana’s existing strong political and economic ties with the Commonwealth of Australia, Australian investors are always welcome and will feel at home in Ghana.
Government, he said, considers investors in the mining industry as partners and collaborators, working towards the same goal of exploiting Ghana’s natural resources for mutual benefit.
He pledged the government will continue to create the enabling environment for businesses in the mining industry to thrive.
He assured that Ghana, with her open society, vibrant economy, resilient democratic institutions, and where respect for individual liberties, the rule of law and the principles of democratic accountability are ingrained into her body politic, is ready for business and added, “Ghana awaits Australia for investment.”
Source: Mypublisher24.com