Ghana’s Minerals Commission entices investors, Nigeria yet to get Commission
Just as Nigerian Solid Minerals experts have observed that nonexistence of Solid Minerals Commission is the root of illegal mining and loss of hard currency to unregulated mining industry, the Minerals Commission of Ghana created many years ago, has started new drive for investors.
Only last week, the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. kayoed Fayemi revealed that his ministry has started moves to partner with the National Assembly for the creation of the ministry.
Briefing the media on the Commission’s vision recently, the Board Chairman, Mr Samson Boafo, said the Commission is currently adopting a three-prong objective to fulfil its vision of making the mining sector attractive for investment and for job creation.
Boafo averred that the first goal would be to provide the necessary investment environment for Ghanaians and non-Ghanaians to invest in the sector to spur economic growth.
According to him, the Minerals Commission would pursue measures, including timely processing of all mineral rights applications and permits to achieve this objective.
Continuing, he said “In view of this, we will introduce an online application and processing system to reduce delays in the mineral rights application processes”.
“We will also identify and develop new mineral potentials with the serious view of diversifying the minerals and mining sector through aggressive marketing and investment promotion.
High point of the Commission’s drive to economic diversification is the plan to facilitate training of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to provide goods and services to the mining sector.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer Minerals Commission, Mr. Addae Antwi-Boasiako, said new offices will be set up to enable the Commission to be close to areas where mining activities take place so as to maintain on the spot monitoring and from there stamp out illegal mining.
