Hon. Chairman,
Hon. Deputy Minister of Finance,
Hon. Members of Parliament
Representatives of Mining Companies
Members of the GhEITI
Distinguished Invited Guests
Members of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen,

15th May, 2015

Government has been asked to take immediate steps to begin the process of incorporating Free Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) clauses into Ghana's mining laws. The addition of those clauses will protect mining communities from the many of the violations they suffer as a result of mining activities. FPIC will also equip the mining communities to protect their rights to ownership of land and rights to livelihood.

15th May, 2015

Ghana's quest to maximize benefits from its oil and gas resources can be given a boost if there is a strategic approach to the implementation of the Local content Law, Dr John Gatsi, a Chartered Economist and lecturer at University of Cape Coast, has submitted.

Government has been advised to put in place stringent measures to compel small scale miners to pay some royalties to the State. Although small scale miners account for over 34% of gold production, they do not pay mineral royalty. “Attempt should be made to obtain some revenue (royalty) from small scale mineral gold producers. The rate of extraction of gold by the small scale artisanal and miners mean the state is losing it resources without any compensatory revenue”.