In a landmark decision, Parliament has unanimously ratified the mining lease granted by the Government to the Ghana Bauxite Company to mine bauxite in Awaso, located within the Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai Municipality of the Western North Region.
The approval followed the presentation of a detailed report by a joint Parliamentary Committee on Mines and Energy and Lands and Forestry. The report, presented by the Mines and Energy Committee Chairman, Hon. Samuel Atta Akyea, highlighted the constitutional requirement for parliamentary oversight in the management and utilization of the nation’s natural resources.
“The mining lease aligns with constitutional and legal frameworks and its ratification would yield significant benefits for the government and contribute to the socio-economic development of the region.”
Hon. Samuel Atta Akyea, Mines and Energy Committee Chairman
The committee expressed satisfaction with the financial and technical capabilities of the Ghana Bauxite Company, endorsing the lease for parliamentary ratification. The report also noted that the company’s experience and resources positioned it well to meet its obligations under the lease agreement.
Members of Parliament commended the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources for ensuring that the lease was brought before the House for ratification. They acknowledged that previous administrations had often bypassed this constitutional provision since 1992.
The House also congratulated the minister and the government for securing a Ghanaian investor for this strategic mine, making it wholly Ghanaian-owned for the first time in its history.
Parliamentarians lauded the government’s initiative to incorporate plans for building a refinery into the agreement, which would add value to the bauxite mined. They expressed optimism that these measures would greatly benefit Ghanaians, fostering economic growth and creating job opportunities.
Minister’s Commitment to Indigenizing the Mining Industry
Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, expressed gratitude to Parliament and the joint committee for their thorough work and unanimous support for the ratification. He reiterated the government’s commitment to indigenizing the mining industry, ensuring the full participation of Ghanaians across the entire value chain.
“The Awaso bauxite mine is crucial to the government’s policy of building an integrated aluminum industry in the country.”
Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources
The Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC), tasked with promoting and developing an integrated aluminum industry in Ghana, has identified the Awaso mine as one of its key projects. GIADEC is collaborating with strategic investors to expand the mine and establish a refinery to process the bauxite extracted from the area.
The expiration of the previous mining lease led to the granting of a new lease on May 3, 2024, covering the Kanayerebo, Subri, Nchiniso, Afumba, and Bokahirri Hills in Awaso.
Earlier this month, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources laid the new lease before Parliament for ratification, in accordance with Article 268(1) of the 1992 Constitution. The Speaker referred it to the Joint Committee of Mines and Energy and Lands and Forestry for review.
With Parliament’s unanimous ratification of the mining lease, the Ghana Bauxite Company is poised to advance its operations, contributing to the country’s integrated aluminum industry and driving economic growth in the region. This decision marks a significant step towards enhancing the value addition of Ghana’s mineral resources and ensuring sustainable development.
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