General News of Thursday, 2 September 2021
Source: 3news.com
2021-09-02
Chief Executive Officer of SIGA, Stephen Asamoah Boateng
The Chief Executive Officer of the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), Stephen Asamoah Boateng, has revealed that the government will soon take a decision on whether or not to dispose of the Akwatia diamond mines in three weeks.
The Akwatia diamond field lies in Birimian rocks and has produced more than 100,000,000 carats (20,000 kg) of diamonds, mostly industrial grade.
The Ghana government-owned Ghana Consolidated Diamonds (GCD) is the only formal commercial producer of diamonds, using strip mining with Manitowoc draglines.
Speaking in an interview with TV3’s Komla Kluste, Mr. Asamoah Boateng said discussions are underway within the SIGA office and the Ministry of Finance on whether or to dispose of it and also how it should be done.
He revealed that whereas some believe the government should retain some percentage shares, others also are of the view that all the 100 percent should go.
“I and the Attorney General have been discussing it, our lawyers are there.
“We have taken a position to go public and dispose of it but with the legal constraint, we need to find a way to go over that period.
“Once that is done I believe within the next couple of years we should be doing that.
“My Minister is there I cannot take the decision without him as well as cabinet.”
“Discussions ongoing within SIGA and the Ministry of Finance, some believe that we should retain some percentage in Akwatia, we cannot just leave the whole 100 percent, others also believe we should share the whole lot.”