Balancing mining with environmental protection a delicate task – Jinapor
By Isaac AIDOO, Accra
Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor says government acknowledges the challenges and complexities that come with Ghana becoming the mining hub of Africa, “which challenges we continue to work to surmount.”
According to the Minister, balancing the imperative of resource extraction with environmental protection, community development, and social responsibility was a delicate task, “one that demands collaboration, innovation, and unwavering commitment to sustainable practices.”
Speaking at the 17th edition of the West African Mining and Power Conference and Exhibition (WAMPOC/WAMPEX) in Accra, on the theme ‘The Mining and Power Hub: Driving Sustainable Investment Opportunities in West Africa,’ Mr Jinapor noted that harnessing the potential of Ghana’s natural resources while protecting the environment and the lives and livelihoods of the millions of people who depend on the environment for sustenance, “requires close cooperation among government agencies, industry players, civil society, and local communities, to ensure that our extractive activities benefit all stakeholders, while safeguarding the interests of future generations.”
Investment in infrastructure
Government, the Minister said was implementing policies and programmes designed to create an enabling environment to drive sustainable investment in responsible mining and power generation.
“We are investing in infrastructure, to decentralise the operations of the Minerals Commission, the regulator of the sector, to make it more efficient in regulating and monitoring mining operations,” he stated, adding that government poised to take the regulatory mandate of the Minerals Commission to where mining actually takes place, thereby promoting efficiency in service delivery, and effective monitoring of mining operations.
Govt incentivising exploration
Recognising the importance of exploration as the lifeblood of mining, government was promoting investment in exploration to uncover new mineral reserves and sustain the long-term viability of the country’s mining industry.
“We are working with the Ghana Revenue Authority and the Ghana Chamber of Mines, under the guidance of government’s Economic Management Team, to explore the best framework for treating critical imposts such as Value-Added Tax on exploration. If properly structured, it will reduce the financial burden on exploration companies, making it more attractive to invest in exploration, while safeguarding the nation’s interest,” Mr Jinapor assured.
