Kitase: Alhaji Yusuf Sulemana, Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, has highlighted the urgent need for Ghana to amend the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703). He emphasized that the country's mining landscape has evolved significantly since the enactment of the Act, necessitating a review to address current realities.
According to Ghana News Agency, Alhaji Sulemana made these remarks during a stakeholder engagement session with the media in Kitase, Eastern Region. The focus was on reviewing Ghana's 2014 mining policy and discussing proposed legal amendments. The event was organized by the Minerals Commission for selected journalists nationwide, as part of a collaboration with the Ghana Journalists Association aimed at enhancing the capacity of journalists to understand the Commission's operations.
During the session, Alhaji Sulemana highlighted the 2016 establishment of the Mineral Development Fund as a significant milestone. This fund provides a framework for distributing royalties to communities impacted by mining activities. He stressed the necessity of aligning legal reforms with developmental initiatives in mining districts to ensure national ownership and effective implementation.
Also speaking at the event, the outgoing Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Mr. Martin Kwaku Ayisi, criticized the existing provisions on development and stability agreements, describing them as 'terrible' and in need of urgent reform. He noted that while Ghana's model for prospecting licenses has been adopted by several African countries, they have implemented it more effectively. A proposed new provision would limit the renewal of prospecting licenses to two terms after the initial three-year period, capping the total duration at nine years.
Mr. Albert Dwumfour, President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), praised the Minerals Commission for its initiative to train media practitioners on the Commission's laws and operations. He encouraged journalists to intensify their monitoring of mining activities nationwide and play a stronger role in environmental protection, warning of the increasing threat posed by illegal mining activities. Mr. Dwumfour advised participants to leverage the training to enhance their understanding of mining regulations and improve the quality and accuracy of their reporting on the sector.
