The first testing laboratory in Ghana for certifying minerals for export and domestic use is underway. Reports suggest that the land needed for the establishment has been acquired.
This will help in ascertaining the quality and purity of gold exports from Ghana, thereby determining the actual value and the proceeds thereof that will come to the government.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Minerals Commission, Dr Toni Aubynn, revealed this saying “the Commission’s strategic plan is anchored on the vision and mission for the improvement of the country’s mining industry. I intend to deepen transparency by working with civil society organisations like the Ghana Coalition on Mining. “
On the medium-term strategic direction, he said the Commission would soon announce a moratorium on prospecting licences to make concessions available for prospective investors and reduce the speculative holding of the licences.
He added that Ghana had lesser known minerals such as kaolin, mica, iron ore and zinc which were not being exploited. “The Commission will encourage prospective investors not to only explore the traditional minerals currently under production, but to venture into exploring other minerals. Recent air-borne geographical findings in Ghana have indicated the occurrence of some minerals including copper, barite, phosphate, zinc, uranium, lead, chromites and columbite. These will be promoted to attract investors in the sector by way of diversifying the country’s mineral exploitation”- he said.
Dr Aubynn also affirmed that the Commission supported the integration of the mining sector with the rest of the economy. The Commission will also intensify its engagement with industry to enhance local supply chain development. The conscious development of the local supply chain holds the key to linking the mining sector to the rest of Ghana’s economy so as to reap many benefits from mining,” he stated.
Dr Aubynn concluded by condemning illegal mining and confessed that the Commission “supports Government’s use of the security forces to flush out these illegal miners as one of the measures to curb this menace.”
