Lands Minister sets new standards for mining companies

The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has emphatically stated that he will be hesitant to extend mining leases to companies that do not actively contribute to the country’s development.

The Minister emphasized the govern­ment’s commitment to channelling mining benefits into community development and enhancing local content capacity, stressing “We want mining companies to understand and appreciate their responsibilities to host communities.”

Mr Buah said this during a meeting with the management of Goldfields Ghana Limit­ed on Friday.

The minister acknowledged Goldfields as a vital partner in Ghana’s mining sector and urged the company to strengthen its local content initiatives, which he described as essential for translating the benefits of mining into tangible improvements for communities.

Touching on the Goldfields-Anglogold mining joint venture, the minister assured Goldfields that the government would expe­dite the process to create Africa’s largest gold mine and make Ghana a mining hub.

He also commended Goldfields for their social initiatives, particularly their focus on local content and sustainable livelihood projects.

Mr Elliott Twum, Ag. Managing Director of Goldfields, assured the Ministry of the company’s commitment to developing mining projects that benefit the host communities and the nation at large.

He highlighted their dedication to environ­mental and social interventions, the promo­tion of local content, and enhancing business supply chains.

Mr Twum noted that the purpose of their visit was also to extend heartfelt congratula­tions to the Minister on his new appointment and to reaffirm the mining sector’s commit­ment to supporting him in his role.

Mr Michael Edem Akafia, Vice President of External Affairs at Goldfields, empha­sized that enhanced collaboration between the company and the Ministry would lead to more sustainable improvements in the liveli­hoods of local communities.

He highlighted several social intervention projects undertaken by Goldfields in recent years, including the Tarkwa-Damang roads, oil palm plantations, and agribusiness initiatives.

BY TIMES REPORTER