Takoradi to host maiden Ghana Minerals and Mining Indaba

The Minerals Commission says its collaboration with the Corporate Ghana Foundation, promoter of the Ghana Minerals and Mining Indaba, is targetted at bringing together top leaders from the private sector, the international investment community, and government officials to discuss challenges and opportunities within the country’s mining industry.

The event to be hosted in Takoradi, Western Region, is scheduled to take place from the 10th -11th December 2015 and will highlight the importance of sustainable developmental issues -- such as governance, infrastructure and local content policies, among others -- to promote the incorporation of pertinent issues into the agenda of mining leaders.

Mr. Isaac Kojo Abraham, Senior Public Relations Officer-Minerals Commission, speaking at a media interaction in Accra confirmed that the collaboration is to deepen miners’ relationship with their operating communities. 

Nana Kwame Aubynn, Chief Executive Officer of Corporate Ghana Foundation, observed that despite the underlying challenges of a recovery economy there are signs of strong growth in the mining communities; and that the changing face of the industry means new mineral discoveries, employees and community practices are constantly evolving.

 “Our focus on the Ghana Minerals and Mining Indaba is to transform impacts on furthering growth and alleviating poverty in the mining regions, and provide real opportunities for new growth across the minerals sector.”

He said the need to develop new mining-relations practices is not solely associated with new strategies; rather, continuous training is an essential part within any restoration or maintenance project. 

“Responding to growth opportunities, as well as anticipating underlying skills shortages, is critical if we are to prepare the workforce for the future.

“It is important we continue to adapt these; widening their scope to include some of the specialised occupations on offer via the minerals sector.  Both the Minerals Commission and Corporate Ghana Foundation are strong advocates for the role mining companies can play in proving good leadership on creating more dedicated training for the sector.”

“What these programme highlight is the importance of addressing mining employees and community-related issues while celebrating our minerals industry,” Mr. Aubynn remarked.