Essipong: The Minerals Commission, under the auspices of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, has engaged members of the Western and Western North Regional House of Chiefs to solicit their inputs to review and amend Ghana's Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703). The engagement, held at Essipong in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis, brought together the paramount chiefs and traditional leaders from the two regions to also deliberate on processes to review the 2014 Minerals and Mining Policy. It formed part of ongoing nationwide stakeholder consultations being undertaken to seek public inputs to reform the country's minerals and mining legal regime to reflect emerging global trends.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, during the opening of the event, said the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) had been in existence for more than a decade, and that a lot had changed over time which had necessitated the move to amend the law. He stated that new technologies, issues of climate change and transition minerals, new mining practices and experiences, and other emerging global trends as well as challenges from the implementation of the current Act over the years required the mining regulations to be tweaked to meet contemporary standards.
Mr Buah emphasized the need for a complete overhaul of the structures of the law and policy due to changes in technology, international laws, and operational practices. He underscored the importance of changing the role of chiefs and traditional authorities in resource extraction to ensure they maintain their custodial roles over lands. Furthermore, the process aims to amend the law to strengthen and build the capacity of mining communities, ensuring companies operating in these areas contribute to community transformation.
The government is making efforts to empower Ghanaians through these legal amendments, aiming for local leadership in large-scale mining to foster a resilient and sustainable sector. The amendment is set to include legal backing for a cooperative mining scheme as a measure to address illegal mining activities, with lessons learned from past mining schemes to ensure its success. Mr Buah called on the chiefs to provide valuable contributions, noting their critical role in shaping processes for sustainable mineral resource management.
Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II, the Paramount Chief of Sefwi Anhwiaso Traditional Area, and President of the National House of Chiefs, praised the Ministry for engaging traditional authorities in the reforms, highlighting the past exclusion of traditional leaders from the Act and regulations. Nana Kobina Nketsia V, Paramount Chief of Essikado Traditional Area, and President of Western Regional House of Chiefs, emphasized the importance of nationalizing Ghana's mineral resources and recognized the engagement as crucial for beneficial legal reforms.
