WAM '96 LAUCHED

The second West Arican International MIning Exhibition and Conference, WAM '96, was launched in Accra on Wednesday. Mining communities in Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Niger, Mali, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, The Gambia, Guinea Bissau and Cote d' Ivoire as well as foreign mining companies are expected to take part in the exhibition slated for July next year at the International Trade Fair Centre.

The first exhibition was held in 1994 with 67 mining exhibiting companies from Ghana, United Kingdom, South Africa, Germany, Singapore, Sweden Holland and the United sates, among others, participanting.

WAM is a joint venture between Exhibition Services Ghana Limited, Management Services (PTY) Limited of South africa, and Trade Fair Investment Limited of South Africa.

Dr J. K. Bordah, acting principal of University of Science and Tech-nology (UST) School of Mines, who launched the programme, said WAM was establishing itself as an international forum towards promoting mining and devices to West Africa's mining industry.

He said due to the government's economic recovery programme (ERP), Ghana had been transformed into the leading mining centre in West Africa, especially in gold production. That, he said, had placed gold as the leading foreign exchangve earner for the country.

Dr Borsah hoped that WAM '96 would draw upon the accumulated know-ledge in mining and mineral technology, the generous business financing, human resources development and the spirit of accomplish to improve and maintain Ghana's competitive edge in the industry.

The executive Director of Ghana Chamber of Mines, Mr Sam Poku, said the Chamber had fully endorsed WAM'96 in view of the remarkable success which the fist WAM exhibition had achieved.