Mr. Adama Soro, the President of the ECOWAS Federation of Chambers of Mines (EFEDCOM), has expressed worry over the security situation of mining companies in the West African sub-region leading to many human casualties and deaths.

According to the President of EFEDCOM, bandits continue to harass and operate with boldness in many regions. This is ultimately frightening for us private sector mining business Association.

Speaking at the third virtual Annual General Meeting of the Federation, the President of EFEDCOM assured members that discussions are underway with “The ECOWAS Commission which will lead to a possible ‘Regional Consultative Meeting on Enhancing Physical Security of Mining Communities’ in the short term.”

Mr.Soro, disclosed that the Commission had already initiated the process to review the ECOWAS Mineral Development Policy, which was validated in 2011 and adopted in February 2012.

“This will further provide the opportunity to extensively deal with subject areas such as physical mine operations security, gender mainstreaming, and climate change issues and alike to be of special attention by Member States.”
Mr. Adama Soro

Solutions to Disruptions in the Supply Chain

Mr. Soro, who doubles as the President of the Burkina Faso Chamber of Mines, noted that another key area of concern is the critical need to find lasting solutions to the issue of supply chain disruptions.

“COVID-19 has brought to the fore, the need for African states to work together to address the challenges in link with the inefficient supply chain and its subsequent impact on benefits for the growth of the industry in West Africa. Thankfully, EFEDCOM has collaborated with the African Natural Resources Management & Investment Centre of the African Development Bank Group and the ECOWAS Commission on a project on Regional Study on Key Strategic Minerals Feedstocks and Inputs Development Strategy.”
Mr. Adama Soro

The Study, Mr. Soro explained, was aimed at investigating how a regional approach to utilization of key strategic minerals feedstocks and inputs could be developed within the context of an integrated value chain-derived, optimisation and generation of economies of scale to contribute to industrialisation in the sub-region.

“We shall intensify our efforts and seek to collaborate with various parties to realize the benefits of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AFCFTA). There is overriding consensus among members of the Federation on the benefits that could accrue to the sub-region if we work together.”
Mr. Adama Soro

Mr. Soro, thus, implored member states of West Africa to position their products to create a niche for themselves to enhance the growth of the sub-region and the continent as a whole.

Dr. Sulemanu Koney, Executive Director of EFEDCOM and CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, on his part, iterated how the security situation was affecting members of the Federation and noted that “We have sought collaboration with ECOWAS and will soon have a discussion on the matter.”

Meanwhile, the ECOWAS Federation of Chambers of Mines is a private sector voluntary mining organization in West Africa established in November 2016 as a company limited by guarantee, with a Secretariat located in Accra, Ghana.

Its mission is to advocate for effective policies to promote sustainable and responsible mining, and to use the resources and capabilities of members to serve the needs of its stakeholders within the ECOWAS Community.