Minister calls for aggressive approach to woo mining investors

The Minister of Mines, Kwadwo Adjei Darko has said that Ghana should adopt an aggressive approach to woo mining investors into the country.

This was because other countries on the continent were adopting such strategies to attract scores of investors into the sector, Mr Darko, told newsmen at the airport on his arrival from South Africa where he attended a conference on: "Investing in Africa mining."

He was accompanied Mrs Joyce Wereku Brobbey, Chief Executive of the Ghana Chamber of Mines and Mr Ben Aryee, Acting Chief Executive, Ghana Minerals

Commission.

The five-day conference, which was opened by the South African President, Thabo Mbeki and was attended by 1,500 participants including 20 African ministers as well as officials from mining companies, financial institutions other technical experts from Europe.

The Minister presented a paper on: " Ghanaian minerals and mining challenges; the way forward." Mr Darko observed that with the availability of technology for land reclamation mining companies and the Chamber of Mines would aid government efforts at reforestation of degraded mining sites.

He noted that Ghana was fast losing its position as a leading producer of gold on the continent and that stringent measures; including the revision of the mining laws was needed to stem the tide. He said the issues discussed at the conference included: "Financing of mining: "Sustainability of mining" and "Land reclamation".