The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources responsible for mining, George Mireku Duker, has taken decisive action by ordering the immediate shutdown of the Gan He Mining Company, a Chinese mining firm operating in the Wassa Akropong District of the Western Region.
Mr Duker issued the directive after conducting a thorough inspection of the company. During his visit, he uncovered numerous violations in the company’s operations that could not be ignored.
The deputy lands minister was particularly unhappy by the absence of essential safety protocols at the company, the non-utilization of granted concessions, and the blatant disregard for the nation’s mineral laws.
He equally expressed disappointment over the fact that the company has not been able to develop its concessions and also not act in accordance with the tenets of its license.
Addressing the management of the company during the tour, Mr Duker disclosed that the temporary closure is a proactive step taken by him to prevent the company from complete collapse.
Additionally, he noted that as deputy lands minister, he has the responsibility to ensure the survival of the company and the ban which will last for six months will allow the company to put in the right measures that will ensure its revival.
Moreover, he explained that it is in the interest of the country that mining companies thrive in their operations and that the ministry through the Minerals Commission will collaborate with the management.
“Stop whatever you are doing. The ministry will write and invite you to Accra for us to guide you. Our intent is not to stop companies or frustrate investors but to guide investors to recoup their investments meaningfully. We are here to see Gang He operating to the optimum.
“If you can’t run me through safety protocols, then it means the bases are not right. We want to see you operate profitably so that Ghanaians will have work to do. We don’t want the company to close down because you have Ghanaians working here and their livelihoods depend on you. We want to see you mining to meet international best practices.”
George Mireku Duker
Furthermore, Mr Duker implored the company to seek extra investment to enable it to develop the concessions it has been granted.
“It is very unfortunate, and I don’t see why if ore grade isn’t giving that opportunity to be commercially viable, you can add and invest in technology that will make you economically viable. You can form synergies. Form synergies if you don’t have the capital to inject it into your mines to upgrade and lift your concessions. When we give you the license, we expect you to use the license to engage meaningfully.
“Operating meaningfully doesn’t depend on one person. It could fall on synergies. You could add some companies to add to what you have. We need more companies. It is not enough acquiring license all over. You can’t secure concessions and leave them. We won’t tolerate that.”
George Mireku Duker
Impact of mining companies on country
Meanwhile, the deputy lands minister emphasized the impact of mining companies and how crucial and valuable contributions of their operations to socio-economic development of the country are.
He asserted that the licenses granted mining companies enjoin them to create economic and social value through the payment of taxes, royalties, employment opportunities, CSR projects, among others.
This, he explained, becomes counterproductive when the companies abandon their concessions and do not exploit the resources to the benefit the communities and the country.
Consequently, Mr Duker cautioned mining companies against abandonment of their concessions, stating that such decisions serves neither the company nor the country’s interest.
On his part, District Chief Executive of Wassa Akropong, Frederick Koranchi, lamented the inability of the company to develop its huge concession.
He disclosed that illegal mining operators have therefore pounced on it to undertake galamsey activities in the area.
To this end, he expressed dismay the destructive activities of illegal miners in the area and chided the company for not engaging the District Assembly on the matter.
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