The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, has tasked the board and management of Ghana Integrated Iron and Steel Development Corporation (GIISDEC), to prioritise the involvement of the private sector to accelerate the development of an integrated iron and steel industry for the country.
According to him, the role of the private sector as an engine of economic growth and industrialisation required that state agencies make conscious efforts to seek their collaboration in creating a sustainable and viable iron and steel industry.
He said that the government, which operates on a tight budget, would not be able to meet the financial responsibilities required by GIISDEC, hence the urgent need to involve private sector players’ to realise the objective of integrating Ghana’s iron and steel industry.
The Minister was speaking yesterday during a working visit to the office of GIISDEC in Accra.
As part of the visit, he met members of the board and management of the corporation, to among others, familiarise himself with the operations of the company.
Mr Jinapor charged the management of GIISDEC to fashion out innovative ways of bringing the private sector on board and develop a comprehensive master plan to guide their operations and accelerate a vibrant integrated iron and steel industry that incorporates the whole value chain.
Chairman of the Board of GIISDEC, Umar-Farouk Aliu-Mahama, said the corporation was already working on a comprehensive iron ore master plan aimed at driving the industry forward.
As part of planned priority programme, he said the corporation would also undertake mineral resource estimation as well as environmental and social impact assessment in Shieni and Oppong Manso.
He noted that GIISDEC would further complete the validation of already existing geological data and procure drill rig for iron ore evaluation analysis.
Currently, the corporation was engaging communities and building the appropriate environment for local content participation within the entire value chain of iron and steel industry, Mr Aliu-Mahama stated.
“We are determined and committed to assist government to make Ghana’s iron and steel industry robust so that it is able to create jobs and improve government’s revenue,” he said.
Managing Director of the corporation, Mr Kwabena Bonsu Fordwor called for continuous support from the Minister to enable the company to achieve its priority project.
The Ghana Integrated Iron and Steel Development Corporation (GIISDEC) was established by an Act of Parliament in March, 2019 to develop and promote an integrated iron and steel industry in the county.
BY CLAUDE NYARKO ADAMS
