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| Mining Communities Should Reap More Benefits - Minister |
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Ms. Hani Sherry Ayittey, Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, has suggested that certain aspects of the mining Act (Act 703) need to be reviewed to ensure that communities in mining areas enjoy more benefits from the mines. The Minister said the Ministry has received a number of complaints from mining communities about the payment of compensation and royalties by mining companies. Ms. Ayittey paid a courtesy call on Kenyasi Number One and Kenyasi Number Two traditional areas as part of her familiarisation visit to the plant site of the Ahafo project of Newmont Ghana Gold Limited (NGGL) at Kenyasi. She advised the unemployed youth in mining communities and illegal mining operators to organise themselves in groups and register to obtain licenses so that they could engage in small scale mining. The Minister explained that the Ministry in collaboration with the Ministry of Forestry and Natural Resources have decided to educate both illegal mining and chainsaw operators on the need to form groups so that they could be seen as recognised bodies and given concessions. This will not only help to preserve the country's forests but will also encourage foreign investors into the mining sector, Ms. Ayittey said. Ms. Ayittey advised mining companies to adhere to proper environmental management practices to avoid the outbreak of diseases in the communities. She appealed to traditional authorities in mining communities to help track down illegal gold (galamsey) miners. She said illegal gold mining and its consequential deaths on perpetrators posed a serious threat to the mining industry and the country's human resource base. Mr. Emmanuel Ato Aubyn, Community Relations Manager, disclosed that NGGL has invested $774 million in the Ahafo project, adding, 3$3.3 million have also been paid as royalties. He said the company has so far spent $270 million on local goods and services and its annual gold pour stands at 550K ounces. Mr. Aubyn said Newmont had its first gold pour in July 2006 and the last production will be in the year 2027. Source: GNA posted: 25/08/09 |
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