Accra, Dec. 3, GNA –
Mr Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, has
commended the immense contribution of mining companies to the growth and
development of the country.
He said the mining
industry is one of the key drivers of the economy, contributing to Gross
Domestic Product, government tax revenue, export earnings and employment
generation, among others.
The Minister said
this in an address read on his behalf to stakeholders at the 5th edition of the
Ghana Mining Industry Awards (GMIA) held to recognize, and celebrate
outstanding achievements and excellence in the mining industry.
The event was held
under the theme: “Honouring Commitment to Excellence in Ghana’s Mining
Industry.”
Mr Asomah-Cheremeh
said the importance of excellence in an industry such as mining where diligence
is the order of the day could not be overemphasised.
“For an industry
that relies heavily on the expertise of people and the efficiency of
technology, there is no room for compromise in our quest to reach the heights
of sustainable and responsible mining,” he said.
The government is
also not relenting on its agenda to use mining as a catalyst for the industrial
transformation of the country with key policies focused on resourced-based
industrialization, value addition, local content, linkages developments, and
also mining community development schemes in collaboration with the Minerals
Development Fund, among others.
Government intends
to make conscious efforts to integrate the mining industry with the rest of the
local economy, thus making it possible for Ghanaian entrepreneurs to increase
their participation in the mining industry, especialiy in the area of providing
goods and services, Mr Asomah-Cheremeh added.
On his part, Mr
Sulemanu Koney, the the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines,
said the mining industry continues to contribute to the country’s
socio-economic development.
The fiscal revenue,
forex receipts and Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) are still unmatched by any
other economic sector in the country, he said.
Dr Ibrahim Mohammed
Awal, the Minister of Business Development, and the Guest Speaker, appealed to
the players in the mining industry to set up a GH¢50 million Entrepreneurship
Fund to help reduce unemployment in the country.
Asanko Gold Ghana
Limited (AGGL), jointly-owned by Asanko and Gold Fields, was adjudged the
mining company of the year 2019 for the second time in a row.
Asanko Gold Ghana, a
leading gold mine company operating in the country outshone key competitions to
pick the top award. It first won the same award in 2018.
Additionally, the
mining company won two awards namely Best Performer in Exploration and first runner-up
in Innovation categories in the night.
Other awards went to
Mr Alfred Baku, Executive Vice Presiden & Head of West Africa Region Gold
Fields as mining personality of the year, and Newmont Goldcorp Akyem Mine won
the best performer in environmental management.
GNA
