We will reopen Prestea mines upon assumption of office - John Mahama

Former President John Dramani Mahama has assured the chiefs and people of the Pretea-Huni-Valley constituency in the Western Region of his commitment to improving the performance of the country's mining industry.

Consequently, he announced that his new administration, upon assumption of office in 2025, once elected on December 7th, would reopen the Bogoso-Prestea Mines to operate effectively and ultimately create jobs for Ghanaians.

"This move aligns with my vision to ensure mining benefits the youth and local communities while adhering to responsible practices,"

The mines have been shut down for about two years now following financial challenges that confronted its production, sustainability, stability and operations.

The flag bearer of the largest opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) gave the assurance during his recent tour of the Western Region in response to an appeal made by Divisional Chief of Prestea-Himan, Nana Nteboah Pra IV, for the government to turn attention to the mining area to improve its development.

The traditional ruler of the area had asked for improved mining activities in Prestea, which is considered one of the resource-endowed enclaves of the Western Region.

Nana Nteboah Pra had also appealed for several opportunities for the people of Prestea, including a teaching hospital, a tertiary institution, and an affirmative action taken to tar the poor road network in the mining community, among others.

In response to all these appeals, President John Dramani Mahama, whose administration under the government of President John Evans Atta Mills had reopened the Prestea mines, then assured the chief and his people of his desire and determination to reposition the mines when given another opportunity to govern the country.

Aside from that, the anticipated incoming President said his government would also introduce pro-poor policies to generally position the country's mining industry through improved small-scale mining and other forms of lawful activities to brighten the industry and create available jobs for the teaming youth of the country.

He said the manifesto of the NDC has captured all these new policy initiatives on small-scale mining, the quest to utilise the technical knowledge of experts to shape up the mining area and applying the right chemicals to clean up the country's water bodies polluted by illegal mining activities.

President Mahama also touched on the decentralisation of the Minerals Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to make them accessible and responsible for maintaining decency and work ethics within the mining industry and along the value chain of the small-scale mining sub-sector of the country's mining industry.

Concessions, he noted, would be distributed to the right companies and individuals with the capacity to operate along with the desired regulations to be facilitated by these state agencies.

Addressing the issue of health, President John Mahama assured Nananom that "Prestea truly deserves a hospital."

Explaining what culminated in the collapse of the national economy, former President Mahama said the policies introduced by President Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo only aimed at empowering his family and cronies.

He cited the excess borrowing by Akufo-Addo's administration and the lack of evidence to back the utilisation of the resources as a testament to the deliberate ploy deployed to destroy the national economy and enrich the family.

The benefits accrued to Data Bank through the issuance of bonds over the years, under the administration of President Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo, he underscored, justified his accusations.

He said the poor performance of the country's financial sector has affected the national economy and appealed to cocoa farmers not to give up, and that NDC would win the elections and restore hope since the collapse of the cocoa sector has also affected the income of cocoa farmers.

President Mahama said everything in Ghana, including the senior national team, the Black Stars, has suffered seriously under the poor supervision of President Akufo-Addo.

Meanwhile, President Mahama also cautioned the electorates against voting "skirt and blouse", explaining that many of the NPP parliamentary candidates who are sensing defeats have begun preaching skirt and blouse in their Constituencies.