The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, has declared that government will ensure corporate social responsibility commitments by mining companies move beyond promises on paper to tangible improvements in host communities.
Addressing the launch of Heath Goldfields Limited’s Five-Year Community Development Plan on Thursday, the minister whose speech was read on his behalf stressed that mining companies operating in the country must be held accountable for the welfare and development of the communities in which they operate.
“We will not allow community development obligations to remain words on paper. They must translate into real impact in the communities,” Minister Armah Kofi Buah stated.
According to him, the government under President John Dramani Mahama is determined to change the long-standing narrative where communities hosting mining operations suffer environmental degradation, displacement and limited economic opportunities despite the wealth extracted from their lands.
He said Ghana’s mineral resources continue to attract investors from across the world and remain a major pillar of the national economy, but noted that many mining communities have not adequately benefited from the sector.
The minister who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ellembelle in the Western Region explained that government was strengthening the regulatory framework governing mining operations through the Minerals Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency and other state institutions to ensure responsible mining practices.
He disclosed that government was advancing policy and legal reforms aimed at making community development frameworks a binding requirement across the mining sector to guarantee transparency, accountability and meaningful community participation.
“To that end, we are advancing a comprehensive agenda of policy and legal reforms that will make community development frameworks a binding requirement across the sector, anchoring greater transparency, meaningful participation and outcomes that communities can actually feel,” he said.
The Minister also indicated that local content requirements would be intensified to ensure the country’s mineral wealth directly benefits Ghanaians. Commending Heath Goldfields Limited for launching the five-year development plan, he described the initiative as a demonstration of responsible mining and a commitment to inclusive and sustainable development.
He noted that the plan’s focus on infrastructure, education, health, youth apprenticeship programmes and local enterprise development were strategic investments capable of transforming communities beyond the lifespan of mining activities.
“It is one thing to extract resources from the ground. It is quite another to deliberately and strategically reinvest in the communities that have graciously opened their lands and lives to your operations,” he added.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Isaac Andrews Tandoh, also described the initiative as a major milestone for both the Bogoso-Prestea enclave and Ghana’s mining industry.
According to him, the true measure of a successful mining operation should not only be based on the quantity of minerals extracted, but also the long-term social and economic transformation it delivers to host communities. “Mining must go beyond production and profitability to include community empowerment, environmental stewardship and shared prosperity,” he stated.
He commended Heath Goldfields for its reported decision to invest about 20 million dollars over the next five years into healthcare, education, infrastructure, enterprise development and livelihood support programmes within the host communities.
The Minerals Commission CEO said the development plan reflects the growing need for mining firms to embrace Environmental, Social and Governance standards that promote inclusive development and environmental protection.
He further praised the company for efforts to revitalize the Bogoso-Prestea Mine and restore confidence in Ghanaian participation in the mining sector. According to him, sustainable mining can only be achieved through effective stakeholder engagement, transparency, accountability and mutual respect between mining companies and their host communities.
He, therefore, urged chiefs, community leaders and residents to collaborate closely with the company to ensure the successful implementation of the development projects. “To the management of Heath Goldfields, let me assure you of the continued support of the Minerals Commission as you work within the regulatory framework to achieve your operational and developmental objectives,” he said.
The minister meanwhile urged the management of the company to remain committed to the targets outlined in the plan and engage host communities transparently throughout its implementation.
He also called on chiefs and residents within the operational areas to actively monitor the execution of the projects and hold all stakeholders accountable. The Five-Year Community Development Plan by Heath Goldfields Limited is expected to drive development in the Bogoso-Prestea enclave and surrounding communities through targeted social and economic interventions.
