The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Integrated Aluminum Development Corporation (GIADEC), Micheal Ansah, says that, his outfit wants to make sure that they champion responsible mining, with regards to the bauxite mining set to take place in the Atewa Forest Reserve.
“We want to make sure we mine responsibly. This is the direction that we’ve been given by Osagyefuo, this is the direction we’ve been given by Okyenhemaa who is a member of our Board and of course the direction that we’ve been given by the President of the Republic Nana Akufo Addo. So, GIADEC wants to champion responsible mining. We want to do things in the right way so that the future generation of Ghanaians can look back with pride at what we have done.”
In an interaction with the media in Akyem Asiakwa in the Abuakwa South Municipality during the inauguration of a 19 -Member Committee made up of representatives of traditional council, Municipal Assembly, religious bodies, Civil Society Organization, youth groups, BNI, NADMO, Police and NCCE, he reassured that best practices will be adopted in mining bauxite deposits in the Atewa Forest Reserve beginning 2021 when the project starts.
According to Mr. Ansah, Atewa is a very sensitive place to do bauxite mining because of the significant biodiversity that the forest has, adding that, three principal rivers take their source from the Atewa Forest; the Ayensu, the Birim and the Densu so, the plans for the mining will be based on a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment to ensure that where they mine and how they mine is very responsive to the environmental issues that are unique to Atewa.
He said, GIADEC has completed mineral resource estimate and is currently carrying out biodiversity and hydrology studies for baseline information to develop comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
“We are going to use all these to develop an Environmental Impact Assessment. So, I want to assure the people of Abuakwa that, the work that we are going to do here is going to be responsive to the requirement of the environment and expectations of the people of Akyem Abuakwa”
The committee is expected to build strong community relations by working in partnership with a community-based platform with broad representation from community stakeholders, and address concerns raised by communities within GIADEC’s operational area. Also, the Committee will act as a body through which information will be communicated to the community.
Okyenhemaa, Nana Adutwumwaa Dokua also speaking said that, the project will bring development to the mining communities and the country at large and urged residents to support GIADEC to execute its mandate of developing an integrated Aluminium Industry.
Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) was established by an Act of Parliament to promote the development of an Integrated Aluminium Industry (IAI) in Ghana. To achieve the IAI agenda of Government, GIADEC will need the buy-in and collaboration of community stakeholders within GIADEC’s operational areas. This will allow GIADEC to obtain the needed Social License to Operate.
