Key representatives of Government, civil society organisations, mining communities, and industry gathered in Accra on 13 November to discuss how mining revenues can best be managed.

The dialogue is the first of a series of three Public-Private Dialogues on Mining Governance, supported by the Australian Government in partnership with the African Centre for Economic Transformation (ACET).

Australia’s High Commissioner to Ghana, H.E. Joanna Adamson, officially opened the dialogue on Governance and the Management of Revenues from Mineral Exploitation, at La Palm Beach Hotel.

“The extractive sector in Ghana can play a transformative role and contribute to the achievement of Ghana’s development priorities. We hope that the dialogues we are organising with ACET will provoke robust debate, inform policy development and contribute to sustainable development in Ghana,” Ms. Adamson said.

With substantial experience in both mining and development, Australia is well-placed to share its experience with African countries that wish to overcome the challenges and reap the benefits of a growing mining sector.

Issues relating to management of mineral revenues were discussed, such as public involvement in policy formulation and implementation, and standards of accountability and disclosure. Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, Executive Director of the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), and key presenter at the forum, prepared the discussion paper which kick started the dialogue.

Ghana’s mineral resources offer significant and unparalleled opportunity for transforming the economy, if they are well managed and can be translated into sustainable, equitable development for the people of Ghana.

The second and third forums in the Public-Private Dialogues on Mining Governance series, scheduled to take place in 2015, will focus on:

ï‚· local content policies;

ï‚· governance of the artisanal and small-scale mining sector; and

ï‚· public-private partnerships to benefit mining communities.

The African Centre for Economic Transformation is an economic policy institute supporting Africa’s long-term growth through transformation. ACET’s mission is to promote policy and institutional reforms for sustained and economic growth throughout Africa, so that African countries can drive their own growth and transformation agendas.