![\"Samuel](\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/image_2022-05-24_172312905-696x478.png\" "\\"Samuel")
Ghana is positioning itself to become the mining hub of Africa, where all mining and related activities, as well as various linkages, will be centred and take place.<\/p>\n
In furtherance of this, the country is already implementing a policy and legislative framework towards a mining industry which substantially retains the full value chain of the industry \u2014 from exploration, to mining, refinery, smelting and downstream production to support and financial services.<\/p>\n
This came to light in an interview with the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, at the just-ended global conference in Cape Town, South Africa, dubbed: \u201cMining Indaba\u201d.<\/p>\n
Expatiating further on the ambitious African agenda, the minister said the 2014 mining policy was undergoing a major review for a clear legislative framework that would assure the state, its citizens and the investor community of a win-win situation.<\/p>\n
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To firm up the move, Mr Jinapor said, Ghana had also embarked on a series of major bilateral discussions with mining giants across the globe, Rand Refinery, AngloGold Ashanti, Australia, American and Nigerian partners, towards achieving the set objective.<\/p>\n
President\u2019s vision<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cWe want Ghana to become a launch pad, so we can provide expertise and services. Essentially that is the President\u2019s vision; that is, what we are working to achieve \u2014 what he is in the process of transforming Ghana into,\u201d Mr Jinapor disclosed.<\/p>\n According to him, within the framework of linkages, the Lands Ministry was placing a lot of emphasis on enhancing local in mining operations.<\/p>\n In that regard, he said, maximising human resource in the mines and Ghanaian ownership were critical.<\/p>\n All that, he noted, were happening to some extent and mentioned Cardinal Resources, which is operating in the northern part of the country, Asante Gold, Adamus, Rocksure and Ghana Bauxite at Awaso as some of the mining companies.<\/p>\n \u201cThe University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Tarkwa, is also training mining experts and localising the training, which has already seen many of our neighbours coming to Ghana to study,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n Collaborative approach<\/strong><\/p>\n Mr Jinapor said his ministry was adopting a collaborative approach with the Ghana Chamber of Mines to develop the mining sector, as well as optimise operations to maximise the contribution of mining to national development.<\/p>\n \u201cAs you know, Ghana is the number one producer of gold in Africa and the sixth in the world, and today, several countries, Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali, which historically were not gold-producing countries have suddenly discovered gold and are all becoming gold-producing countries, \u201c he indicated.<\/p>\n \u201cSo what does the President mean when he says we should make Ghana the mining hub of Africa? What it means is that we should be able to develop an indigenous mine support industry which can support, let\u2019s say, the mining industry of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.<\/p>\n \u201cIf we talk about exploration, we should develop an exploratory sector in Ghana which can venture into the space of Burkina, Mali and Niger. When we talk about financing for mining activities, we should be able to engage our financial sector in a way that mobilisation for mining will take place in Ghana,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Regulatory framework<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cAs you know, Ghana prides itself as one of the countries with a very advanced regulatory, legal and policy framework for mining and several countries have visited our country since I became minister to learn from us,\u201d Mr Jinapor further stated.<\/p>\n He said a number of countries, The Sudan, Guinea and Niger, had sought audience with Ghana, asking for technical assistance and to explore the opportunity of learning how the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation was set up and how Ghana was developing its bauxite industry.<\/p>\n Democratic culture<\/strong><\/p>\n The whole issue, Mr Jinapor argued, also bordered on the country\u2019s democratic culture, where the rule of law was the norm and not the exception, and where there was respect for contract sanctity.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is where the ministry works in partnership with the Ghana Chamber of Mines and various stakeholders in the industry to ensure that the country becomes a conducive environment and attractive environment for investors,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n He indicated that his sole aim and preoccupation was to engage with all the key actors in the industry to make them confident that the country was the place to spend their money.<\/p>\n \u201cGhana is the place to invest,\u201d Mr Jinapor concluded.<\/p>\n MORE: <\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n