The Ghana Chamber of Mines says it has no problem with small-scale mining but would not condone the activities of illegal miners (Galamsey).

Speaking at the launch of the 80th anniversary celebration of the Chamber, Ms Joyce Aryee, Chief Executive Officer, said the activities of illegal miners was a major challenge confronting the industry and must be dealt with once and for all.

She said there was the need to promote the integration of mining into the national economy to ensure that the country enjoyed the full benefit of the sector.

“In fact, other countries have used mining well, we can’t complain when we do not have the right policies in place,” Ms Aryee said,adding that, ‘it was high time Ghanaians were encouraged to invest in the sector”.

She called on the government to explore the possibility of releasing more royalties for infrastructure development in the mining communities. Currently, nine per cent of royalties paid go to the communities.

There is also the need for a land use policy to avoid conflicts in the use of the resource.

Mr Jurgen Eijgendaal, President of the Chamber, said the anniversary would enable members of the Chamber to reflect on the overall contribution the sector had made to the economy.

“The upcoming year-long celebrations must awake our ingenuity to find new ways the Chamber can use to efficiently carry out its agenda of using mining as a catalyst for national development,” he said.

Mr Eijgendaal said as the Chamber took steps to redefine and deepen its role as responsible corporate citizens, stakeholders must help to create the enabling environment through the provision of right policies, infrastructural development in order to reduce the cost of doing business in the country.

Launching the anniversary, Mr Andrews Adjei-Yeboah, Deputy Minister of Lands, Forestry and Mines, said his Ministry together with the Ministry of Local Government were taking steps to draw up guidelines to ensure that royalties go into activities that benefited the communities directly.

He urged the Chamber to package its messages properly in the communities in which they operate to help reduce conflict and enhance understanding among stakeholders.

There is also the need to engage civil society organizations working in the mining communities to build bridges that can effectively deal with social issues when they emerged.

Planned activities for the anniversary to be held on the theme:

“Life without Mining is Impossible,” will include symposium, choral concert and lectures.


Source: GNA