By Charles Tawiah
Nyinahin (Ash), Nov. 02, GNA – Mr. Issahak Ibrahim, District Chief Executive for Atwima Mponua, says the people in the area are eager to see the full development of the bauxite project in the area to help transform the local economy and bring tangible economic opportunities for the people.
He said the chiefs and the people, as well as the district assembly, were committed to engage in a fruitful partnership that would help translate the enormous mineral potential of Nyinahin into tangible opportunities for the people.
Mr Ibrahim stated this, when a delegation from the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Cooperation (GIADEC) and ORG Technology, a foreign bauxite investor, paid a courtesy call on him at Nyinahin to discuss the extraction of bauxite deposits in the area.
The visit was part of efforts by the two entities to form effective partnerships with the people and the district assembly towards the development and extraction of the bauxite deposits in the Nyinahin enclave of the district.
The DCE said the people in the district were expected to be meaningfully involved and participate in the operations of the mine, receive the needed economic benefits while adequately working to protect the environment and the interest of affected communities.
“The bauxite beneath our soil must be translated into opportunities above ground for the people of Atwima Mponua”, he stated.
Mr Ibrahim emphasized that, the Assembly would follow the development with keen interest and considerable optimism in order to ensure that the engagements would translate into the actual commencement of responsible bauxite mining and the broader development of the mineral source.
He pointed out that, the potential benefits for the district were enormous since employment opportunities, skills development, business growth, infrastructural expansion and improved economic prospects were expected from the mineral extraction.
He appealed to all stakeholders to render their maximum efforts to ensure the success of the extraction processes for the benefit of all citizens as a complement to the government’s commitment to economic development and improved livelihoods for the people.
The bauxite deposit within the Nyinahin enclave is valued about $ 17.5 billion with the potential to create over 90,000 jobs for the Ghanaian youth.
Mr. Maxwell Essien, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GIADEC commended the DCE for the warm reception and leading a fruitful engagement.
He pledged to ensure a gainful partnership with the ORG Technology and the Ghana government to produce a successful extraction operation to help achieve its intended purpose for the benefit of the residents and the country.
GNA
Edited by Kwabia Owusu-Mensah/Kenneth Odeng Adade