By Godwill Arthur- Mensah
Digaare (U/ER), Nov. 9, GNA -The government will continue to pursue its vision of adding value to the country’s mineral resources and translating them into wealth for the benefit of all Ghanaians.
To that end, the government would work closely with all stakeholders in the mining industry to ensure sustainable management and utilisation of the country’s natural resources.
Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, gave the assurance during the official commissioning of Cardinal Namdini Mine, a subsidiary of Shandong Gold Group, a Chinese firm, in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region.
Shandong Gold Group has invested approximately US$1.1 billion in its Talensi mine since it started operations about two years ago.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo commissioned the gold mine at a colourful ceremony at Digaare, on Friday, which also marked the pouring of its first gold in Ghana.
It’s the first large-scale mine in northern Ghana, and one of the largest single gold stream mines in the West African Sub-region.
The project, undertaken by Cardinal Namdini has a lifespan of 15 years, projected to produce about 150 million metric tonnes of ore, equivalent to five million ounces of gold within the period.
It’s the first greenfield mine (starting from scratch) in Ghana since 2013, when Newmont Akyem Mine poured its first gold.
The Lands Minister underscored the need for the Company to comply with Ghana’s mining regulations by adhering strictly to environmental and socio-economic best practices.
“Government expects that you will employ the best of mining practices and adhere to all environmental and other regulatory standards for a safe and sustainable mining operation.
“I’m aware that your parent Company, the Shandong Gold Group, has been a global leader in key technologies for gold mining and processing, and I have no doubt that you will replicate these same standards here in Ghana,” Mr Jinapor stated.
The Minister highlighted some of the measures implemented by the government to facilitate the smooth operations of large-scale mining companies in the northern part of the country, and attracting investors to that part of the country.
“I am happy to also report that aside this mine, there is the construction of another large-scale greenfield mine in the Upper West Region by Azumah Resources.
“And just below the northern belt of the country, Newmont is constructing a new mine in Ahafo North.
“To meet the regulatory needs of these emerging mines, a five-story Regional Office complex is being constructed for the Minerals Commission, which would be fitted with a laboratory,” he stated.
The Minister said the Ministry was upgrading the district offices of the Minerals Commission in Bolgatanga, Wa and Bole to Regional status, and new Regional Offices were being constructed in those areas to take care of the regulatory needs of the mining firms in the middle and northern belt.
Those offices, the Mnister explained, would cater for the needs of the emerging large-scale mines in that part of the country in addition to regulating the activities of the small-scale miners.
Mr Jinapor stated that the Ministry was not only focused on ensuring an upscale in gold production, but also ensuring effective execution of the President’s vision of adding value to the mineral resources through the establishment of mineral refineries across the mining areas.
“While working to increase production, we continue to pursue the vision of President Akufo-Addo to add value to our mineral resources and translate these volumes of minerals into wealth for the benefit of the people.
“We have, therefore, constructed and commissioned a 400 kilogram capacity gold refinery to refine the gold we produce, and in the next couple of weeks, the President will cut sod for the commencement of work on a US$450 million manganese refinery at Nsuta in the Western Region, to be funded by the parent company of Ghana Manganese Company,” Mr Jinapor stated.
Mr Tong Defa, the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, on his part, said the project had strengthened the longstanding bilateral relations between China and Ghana.
He pledged the Chinese government’s unwavering commitment to working closely with the government of Ghana for sustainable development.
He noted that China had been a major trading partner to Ghana for a very long time, with huge presence in the Ghanaian mining sector and expressed the Country’s commitment to employing cutting-edge technologies to develop the sector.
GNA