President Akufo-Addo has launched three Community Mining Scheme (CMS) at Egila/Gwira, Akango/Duale and Aboso, in the Evalue-Gwira and Tarkwa Nsuaem constituencies, respectively.

The Scheme is expected to create some 2,000 jobs at Egila/Gwira and Akamgo/Duale, with some 10,000 jobs set to be created at Aboso.

Launching the Scheme on August 18, day one of his 2-day working visit of the Western Region, President Akufo-Addo explained that the CMS initiative is in line with the Minerals and Mining Law, 2015, Act 703 and is meant to encourage responsible small-scale mining, in communities across the country.

Recounting the menace wreaked by galamsey activities across the country which begun prior to his assumption of office in January 2017, the President stated that the phenomenon used dangerous chemicals, such as mercury and cyanide that led to pollution and overall degradation of the environment.

These included the pollution of waters, the degradation of lands, the non-reclamation of degraded land and among other negative environment impacts.

“I was of the view, a view shared happily by the majority of Ghanaians, that, if we allowed it to continue, we would be jeopardising both our present and our future. Our responsibility, to this end, was clear,” he said, adding: “One of the measures instituted by government to deal with the menace of galamsey is the Community Mining Scheme.”

President Akufo-Addo continued, “We believe that participation by Ghanaians and or the host communities in mining will set us, as a nation, on the journey to boost the rural economy, help rural infrastructure development, and improve livelihoods, through shared wealth. More importantly, it will enable Ghanaians develop the capacity to take over, eventually, the operations of the minerals sector.”

Aboso 1D1F

In addition to launching the Community Mining Scheme at Aboso, President Akufo-Addo cut the sod for the construction of the Aboso Tailings Project, a 1-District-1-Factory initiative, which is being established to treat and process tailings waste to produce gold doré.

Yellowtail Ltd, the enterprise promoting this initiative, will construct a state-of-the-art gold processing facility, within six months, with a total capital outlay of some $12 million, to ensure a steady production of gold doré.

“The benefits of this project are both environmental and economic. The project will introduce technology and safe working practices to small to medium scale underground sites, and rehabilitate contaminated sites for agricultural purposes and developments”, the President added.

On an annual basis, for five years, the Project will contribute approximately US$1.35 million as royalties, and $54,000 as small-scale mining sustainable levy to Government. Cumulatively, a total amount, in excess of eight million, $8.7 million, will be contributed as corporate tax (CIT) over the five year period.

“I am counting on you, Nananom, to contribute to the success of these projects for the development and transformation of Aboso. Government’s determination to bring progress and prosperity to every part of our country is very much on course,” President Akufo-Addo added.