The Former President and the current flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama has said that his government, when voted into office, will put adequate measures in place to regulate the country’s mining sector and make the sector profitable to all.
The NDC flag bearer made this statement, as he paid a visit to the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II at the Manhyia Palace to introduce his running mate, Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyeman.
Speaking at the palace, he said that, he will introduce cooperative mining where by cooperation on mining will be formed which will enable mining activities to be well supervised and regulated.
He said this with regards to claims that, the current administration is preventing persons with genuine documents from engaging in mining activities and alleged that the excavators and other equipment seized from some small scale miners in the country have been given to persons affiliated to the ruling government.
“A lot of things are not going on well in this country. For instance, when it comes to small scale mining, people paid monies and were given concessions genuinely which was done through the Minerals Commission. When the current government assumed office, they took these concessions from these people and have given them to other people. We must know that Ghanaians are one people and we are all entitled to benefit from the country. It doesn’t matter one’s tribe, be it Ashantis, Akyems, Gas, Fantes, Ewes or Dagombas. Unfortunately, there’s been discrimination and as a result, if one is not affiliated to a particular party, his or her concession would be taken away from them and given to other people.
“We are seeking to introduce cooperative mining where the youth can organize themselves into groups and there would be mining safety officers to ensure they do the right thing.”
He then added that his party stands for social justice and urged the people to vote for him to correct these mistakes and promised to ensure mining benefits the country.
“They have seized some people’s excavators and have given them to their party members. NDC, as we stand for social justice, is saying that, should we be voted for, we will correct all these mistakes. All those who have had their excavators seized will have them back. Those whose concessions have been taken will have them back. There will be a law in place to spell out how the mining would be done to benefit the country without causing destruction to the land and water bodies. That’s what we need.”
He also said that there are a lot of things that can be done to make mining very beneficial to the country and that’s what his government will do to help bring about development.
The “10 Billion Big Push”
John Dramani Mahama also spoke on his promise to introduce what he calls the “10 Billion Big Push” where US$ 2 billion would be set aside towards infrastructural development in various parts of the country each year for a period of five years, should he be elected as president in the December polls.
According to him, the infrastructural projects will cover the areas of health, education, roads among others.
Major road infrastructure projects, he cited, under the initiative, will include the dualization of the Accra-Kumasi road, Accra to Cape Coast Road and Accra to Aflao road.
He has also indicated that he will ensure the completion of the Eastern Corridor road as well as construct a number of roads in the Bono, Bono East and the Ahafo regions.
He also indicated that should he be elected as president, he would consider railway development as a priority.
