The CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Sulemanu Koney, has stressed the importance of incorporating exploration and development planning into the early stages of mining operations.

In his interview on Joy News’ PM Express Business Edition on Thursday, September 19, he argued that Ghana’s mining activities should be integrated into the country’s broader development agenda.

Mr Koney explained that mining should not be seen as a standalone activity but as a catalyst for regional and national development.

“Mining doesn’t just take place. It starts with exploration, and as a country, we should know where our mineral resources are before we begin operations. This should fit into a larger development plan for the community,” he said.

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He shared an example of a mining company in the Upper East Region that, after consultations, committed to building an airport to support the mining operations and enhance the region’s infrastructure.

“Before they even started mining, they thought about building an airport because they understood the development needs of the area. This is the kind of forward-thinking we need,” Mr Koney said.

The Chamber of Mines boss called on policymakers and development experts to sit down with mining companies early in the process to integrate mining operations into community development plans.

“We need to ask questions about how mining can fit into the larger plan of development before we even issue licenses.

"The mining industry has the potential to drive decentralization and regional development, but only if it’s part of the plan from the start,” he added.