Minerals Commission to initiate strategies to enhance sustainable gold production -Board Chair

The Minerals Commission is working seriously to maintain Ghana’s position as the largest gold producer in Africa, the Board Chairman, Mr Sampson K. Boafo, has said.

He said Ghana would continue to initiate strategies to enhance sustainable gold production in the country.

Ghana in 2018 beat South Africa to become the largest producer of Gold in Africa.

Speaking at the just ended Ghana gold Expo held in Takoradi under the theme “The role of Minerals Commission in phasing out mercury and establishment of community mining scheme,” said much attention had been drawn on Ghana following the country’s position as the largest gold producer in Africa.

“Gold will continue to be critical catalyst in Ghana’s economy,” the Board Chairman said.

He said mining, especially gold played significant role in the Ghanaian economy, stressing that “Gold will continue to be critical catalyst in Ghana’s economy.”  

 Mr Boafo said the Minerals Commission is mandated by law to regulate and manage the utilization of the mineral resources of Ghana and also charged with coordination of implementation of polices relating to mining.

Touching  on phasing out of mercury, Mr Boafo recalled that  in 2014, Ghana signed  on the Minamata Convention to control and ultimately phase  out mercury use  in  a number  of products and processes  including artisanal and small scale  gold   mining.

He said the Mineral Commission and the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) in Tarkwa in the Western Region had also developed the ‘Sika Bukyia’ model as an alternative method to the use of mercury for the extraction   of gold and believed   that it would help achieve the objective of phasing out mercury use in small scale mining.

Currently, he added, that the Commission was collaborating with stakeholders to complete the National Action Plan on Minamata Convention by March 31, 2020.

Community mining schemes, Mr Boafo believed, would provide solutions to the challenges of illegal mining popularly known as Galamsey.

The Ghana Gold Expo 2020, which sought to showcase investment opportunities in Ghana, he noted, was a welcome initiative and hope that it would provide platform for discussions on the challenges and prospects within the gold industry of Ghana.

The  Board Chairman  also  hoped that the forum helped to discuss  new sustainable solutions that would help develop the  gold   industry into  a more globally competitive and first class industry, stressing “it is the intention  of government to create  wealth for citizens along the entire value chain of the gold  industry where ,local refineries will be encouraged and supported.

FROM CLEMENT ADZEI BOYE, TAKORADI