Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel A. Jinapor, has assured the mining industry, particularly licensed large-scale mining companies in the country of government’s commitment to protect their concessions.
According to him, government in its own right, will activate all the necessary security protocols required to ensure the protection of these concessions.
Delivering the keynote address at the Mining for Development Forum held today, September 12, 2023, the lands minister stressed the need for the mining companies, through the Chamber of Mines, to collaborate with the government to protect their concessions.
Speaking on the theme, ‘Ensuring the Security of Operations in Ghana; The Role of Stakeholders’, Mr. Jinapor noted that the fortunes of the large-scale mining firms have direct bearing on government’s economic projection. Hence, he emphasized the need for an effective coordination to grow the sector and maximize its gains and benefits to the country.
While expressing his concern with reports of illegal invasion of large-scale mining companies, Mr Jinapor outlined two important pillars on which he believes, if implemented to the letter, will address the menace of encroachment on large-scale mining concessions.
He maintained that these two factors are equally important and must work in tandem to attain the objective of guaranteeing the absolute safety and protection of the concessions of large-scale mining companies.
“There are two ways of protecting mining companies in the country. Across the world, there are issues of illegalities, contentions between the locals and the investors, conglomerates or companies. There are two fundamental pillars on which I believe we can chart our path.
“One, in my view, is brute enforcement. What you do with brute enforcement is that when such issues happen, you move in immediately uproot them, you sack them, arrest, prosecute and convict them…”
Samuel Jinapor
Securing large-scale mining concessions
Moreover, Mr Jinapor indicated that another aspect of securing large scale concessions is by putting in place sustainable measures to “carry” along the community with stakeholders. This, he explained, is absolutely important in any given setting.
“Any group which suggests that just by deploying law enforcement agencies will resolve issues of encroachment of large-scale enforcement will not work. The enforcement is absolutely important and the principle of carrying the community along is also important.”
Samuel Jinapor
Following this, Mr Jinapor commended the Ghana Chamber of Mines for the program and urged them to work hand-in-hand with government to carry out short-term sustainable measures to develop their communities.
On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Miners, Sulemana Koney, in his welcome address, stated that the forum will afford the various stakeholders the opportunity to deliberate on the various means of ensuring the protection of concessions and contributing to the community and country’s development.
He lauded the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources under the leadership of Mr Jinapor for its consistent efforts in seeking to address the teething challenges within large-scale mining firms.
The Forum had in attendance the Deputy Minister responsible for Mining, Hon. George Mireku Duker; the Western Regional Minister, Hon. Kwabena Okyere Darko; President of the Central House of Chiefs, Odeefuo Amoakwa Buadu; players and captains of the Mining Industry, some security personnel among others.
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