Accra, Aug. 2, GNA - The Minerals Commission, Mines Department and the Geological Survey Department have pledged their support to the Ministry of Mines to help rectify all the problems facing the mining sector and improve their revenue generation.
During a maiden visit to these organizations by the Minister of Mines, Mrs Cecilia Bannerman, the Deputy Minister Dr Majeed Haroun and some Directors on Friday, they were told that in spite of the lack of logistics, they had managed to make the best out of the situation. These three sectors under the Ministry have helped to generate mineral resources that have contributed greatly to government coffers for the development of the country.
Mr Benjamin N.A. Aryee, Chief Executive of the Mineral Commission, said the Commission was doing all it could to make the sector attractive to investors.
He said the Commission was mandated to regulate, manage and utilize mineral resources and had 113 workers with seven district offices. He added that there was the need to develop their capacity to sustain the exploration process.
Mr Aryee noted that about eight million hectares of land had been degraded due to mining activities saying that small-scale miners, most of whom were unlicensed, had contributed significantly to this degradation.
He said the Commission would register all these miners and help them to operate efficiently and in a more environmentally friendly manner.
Mr Philip Oduro Amoako, Director of the Geological Survey Department, said government had not been able to support the department, adding that the seismic equipment for monitoring earthquake would not function if it was not changed within the next three years.
He said since its establishment 90 years ago, the department had been using outmoded seismic equipment adding that it must be changed to digital to enhance their work.
Mr Amoako said people were pirating the data of the department for commercial purposes but unfortunately the department had not been legally empowered to challenge them.
He said some of the activities undertaken by the department included a survey for mineral deposits, underground water potential, construction work and earthquake monitoring.
Mr Amoako said the mining economy was vulnerable to market fluctuations adding that the department was surveying for other minerals like zinc, copper, manganese and platinum.
He said the department would be supported by the European Union to survey some areas in the northern parts of the country.
Mr Ebenezer Sackey, Chief Inspector of the Mines Department, said the limited number of staff hampered their work. He said they had about 50 workers although they would require about 80 to make their work efficient.
He said the Department was mandated to ensure that mining industries observed safe environmental standards and maintained good equipment adding that apart from gold, the department monitored every mineral mined.
Mrs Bannerman and Dr. Majeed commended the organizations for their good work.
They said a gold refinery and diamond cutting industries would be established to enhance the work of the mining industry in Ghana and the sub-region.
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THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT ATTRIBUTED TO ME MISQUOTES ME:
Mr Aryee noted that about eight million hectares of land had been degraded due to mining activities .....YES THE FORESTRY MINISTRY IS ON RECORD AS SAYING THAT THE COUNTRY'S FOREST RESOURCES HAVE BEEN REDUCED FROM ABOUT 8 MILLION HECTARES TO JUST OVER 1 MILLION HECTARES.
I MADE REFERENCE TO THIS AND EMPHASISED THAT THIS CANNOT BE ATTRIBUTED TO MINING, BUT LARGELY OTHER ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES.
HOPE YOU WOULD CORRECT THE REPORTAGE. THANK YOU.
B.N.A. ARYEE, MINERALS COMMISSION
Accra, Aug. 2, GNA - The Minerals Commission, Mines Department and the Geological Survey Department have pledged their support to the Ministry of Mines to help rectify all the problems facing the mining sector and improve their revenue generation.
During a maiden visit to these organizations by the Minister of Mines, Mrs Cecilia Bannerman, the Deputy Minister Dr Majeed Haroun and some Directors on Friday, they were told that in spite of the lack of logistics, they had managed to make the best out of the situation. These three sectors under the Ministry have helped to generate mineral resources that have contributed greatly to government coffers for the development of the country.
Mr Benjamin N.A. Aryee, Chief Executive of the Mineral Commission, said the Commission was doing all it could to make the sector attractive to investors.
He said the Commission was mandated to regulate, manage and utilize mineral resources and had 113 workers with seven district offices. He added that there was the need to develop their capacity to sustain the exploration process.
Mr Aryee noted that about eight million hectares of land had been degraded due to mining activities saying that small-scale miners, most of whom were unlicensed, had contributed significantly to this degradation.
He said the Commission would register all these miners and help them to operate efficiently and in a more environmentally friendly manner.
Mr Philip Oduro Amoako, Director of the Geological Survey Department, said government had not been able to support the department, adding that the seismic equipment for monitoring earthquake would not function if it was not changed within the next three years.
He said since its establishment 90 years ago, the department had been using outmoded seismic equipment adding that it must be changed to digital to enhance their work.
Mr Amoako said people were pirating the data of the department for commercial purposes but unfortunately the department had not been legally empowered to challenge them.
He said some of the activities undertaken by the department included a survey for mineral deposits, underground water potential, construction work and earthquake monitoring.
Mr Amoako said the mining economy was vulnerable to market fluctuations adding that the department was surveying for other minerals like zinc, copper, manganese and platinum.
He said the department would be supported by the European Union to survey some areas in the northern parts of the country.
Mr Ebenezer Sackey, Chief Inspector of the Mines Department, said the limited number of staff hampered their work. He said they had about 50 workers although they would require about 80 to make their work efficient.
He said the Department was mandated to ensure that mining industries observed safe environmental standards and maintained good equipment adding that apart from gold, the department monitored every mineral mined.
Mrs Bannerman and Dr. Majeed commended the organizations for their good work.
They said a gold refinery and diamond cutting industries would be established to enhance the work of the mining industry in Ghana and the sub-region.
---
THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT ATTRIBUTED TO ME MISQUOTES ME:
Mr Aryee noted that about eight million hectares of land had been degraded due to mining activities .....YES THE FORESTRY MINISTRY IS ON RECORD AS SAYING THAT THE COUNTRY'S FOREST RESOURCES HAVE BEEN REDUCED FROM ABOUT 8 MILLION HECTARES TO JUST OVER 1 MILLION HECTARES.
I MADE REFERENCE TO THIS AND EMPHASISED THAT THIS CANNOT BE ATTRIBUTED TO MINING, BUT LARGELY OTHER ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES.
HOPE YOU WOULD CORRECT THE REPORTAGE. THANK YOU.
B.N.A. ARYEE, MINERALS COMMISSION
