Accra, Oct 20, GNA - Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, Minister of Regional Cooperation and NEPAD, on Monday tasked African Mines Ministers to work towards the harmonisation of investment and mining policies to enable them to attract critically needed resources for the development of the Sector.
Addressing Ministers from six African countries, who are in Accra attending a steering committee meeting of African Mining Partnership, Dr Apraku said countries on the continent needed to draw a clear road map on the Sector in line with the vision outlined in the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) necessary to stimulate investors' confidence.
They must also agree on specific investment code and tax incentives as well as environmental regulations that could make the Sector competitive in the global economy.
The steering Committee, made up of six countries, which Ghana is chairing, is to plan and ensure the establishment of the African Mining Partnership, a governmental forum whose work would be to pursue minerals and mining related goals contained in NEPAD.
Dr Apraku said: "What is needed is a concerted effort not only to develop the Mining Sector but to support good governance, build effective partnership with the private sector and civil society and pursue regional cooperation and integration to make NEPAD truly home grown, owned and managed vision in the development framework," the Minister said.
He said NEPAD had made mining a priority sector because of its importance in the development process.
It is in this connection that NEPAD has mapped out three main objectives of improving the quality of mineral resource information, creation of a conducive regulatory framework and the establishment of best practices to ensure efficient extraction of mineral to foster the development of the Sector.
Dr Apraku said the cross border and sub-regional approach that NEPAD had adopted by viewing mining operations not only as national projects was a strategy to forge greater integration and cooperation to enhance trade, business and investment opportunities as well as foster unity. Mrs Cecilia Bannerman, Minister of Mines, said the Partnership must be established early to enable the countries to deal with the common problems that ran through their operations in the Sector. 20 Oct. 03
