Chamber of mines to collaborate with Defence Ministry

The Ghana Chamber of Mines is asking all stakeholders to collaborate with government to combat the illegal mining menace affecting the mining industry and the environment.

“Illegal small-scale mining is destroying the environment, communities; and the multinational mining companies are held liable for the destruction from some of the small-scale miners’ activities. “We will ask for support from the Minister of Defence to help fight illegal miners.”

The President of the Chamber, Johan Ferreira, made the appeal when he led a delegation from the Chamber of Mines to officially pay a courtesy call on the Minister of Defence, Dr. Benjamin Kumbour, in Accra to find ways of establishing partnerships between government and the chamber which will help improve the nation’s mining industry and solve the illegal mining menace in the country.

The visit was also to allow the chamber and government to work together and attract investments into the country’s mining sector.

Mr. Ferreira explained that government continues to lose significant amounts of tax revenue every year as a result of such illegal mining activities, as it projecting a bad image for the entire mining sector among inhabitants of mining communities and negatively affecting the environment.

“We believe that with responsible mining, we can reduce any impact. Some activities of illegal miners are impacting negatively and we want to disassociate ourselves from such practices,” he stated.

He indicated the Chamber’s commitment to comply with all national and international laws on mining, and assured the minister and government that his outfit will ensure companies engaged in the mining industry commit themselves to sustaining the environment.

Mr. Ferreira said Ghana is endowed with minerals, particularly gold, which ought to be properly harnessed; and promised that his outfit will support the Ministry to help address some of the environmental challenges facing the mining sector.

“The mining sector is a big sector that contributes about 68 percent of the country’s revenue, although the menace of illegal mining has given a wrong image of the sector.

“The Chamber of Mines is passionate about the environment and it will ensure mining companies comply with the rules and regulations in the country, which is the best practice anywhere in the world to protect the ecology.”

The First Vice President of the Chamber, Kwame Addo-Kufour, observed that illegal mining is a threat not only to government and the Chamber of Mines but everyone in the country.

He called for a collaborative effort from all stakeholders to arrest illegal miners.

AngloGold Ashanti has assured it has adequate security to keep illegal miners at bay when it closes its Obuasi Mine.

The mining firm will partially close its Obuasi Mine for two years to upgrade it.

The company will continue with its surface mining programme, which it regards as profitable against the expensive underground mining it has been doing for some years now.

The mine has been in existence for over a hundred years and has been struggling for years.

The period of the amended operation is to allow for massive capital injection to renew its antiquated infrastructure, improve underground transport, and sharpen the skills of its workers.

The planned shutdown is also to enable management put the mine in a care and maintenance mode.

Vice President, Corporate Affairs for Anglogold Ashanti Ghana Kwame Addo-Kufour, said AngloGold Ashanti in collaboration with the security agencies will ensure that illegal miners do not encroach on the company’s concessions.

“AGA as a responsible miner has a strategy to secure its operations, and we have received a lot of support from the security agencies and the mining task force in implementing this. Therefore, I can say we have got adequate security and the support we require.”

Kwame Addo-Kufour adds AGA is committed to making sure that during the period of amended operations the integrity of underground operations will be maintained, and in collaboration with the military and other agencies ensure that other operational areas are ready for ramp-up in the very short-term.

The second vice president of the Chamber, Alfred Baku, expressing optimism about the mining industry, disclosed that most companies within the industry are struggling to sustain their operations -- but was hopeful that the industry will regain its strength in the coming years with an improved price of gold in the world market. 

Dr. Kumbour assured the Chamber of government’s readiness to help eradicate illegal small-scale miners from communities.