The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has launched the Bongo-Soe Community Mining Scheme at Bongo-Soe in the Upper East region. It is expected to provide direct and indirect jobs to the people of Bongo and its environs.
Speaking at the ceremony, which was attended by Upper East Regional Minister, Stephen Yakubu and some traditional authorities, Mr Jinapor said the Northern part of the country has been blessed with rich mineral deposits.
He argued that mining companies such as Cardinal Namdini Resources, Perseus Mining among others would have come to the north if there were no gold deposits in the area.
He stressed on the importance of correcting the mistake of the past by ensuring the exploitation of the resources in a responsible and sustainable manner.
According to the Lands Minister, President Akufo-Addo’s government is bent on revamping the mining sector and raising local giants in the small scale mining industry, and the Community Mining Scheme is an ideal way of achieving that.
He believes that the Community Mining Scheme will create employment in the area and improve the livelihoods of the people.
Minister Jinapor told the gathering that there is a manual for the Community Mining Scheme, which must be religiously adhered to while warning that the Ministry would not hesitate to revoke the license if the CMS is found not to be following the measures stipulated in the manual.
He urged the management of the Scheme to work effectively with the stakeholders in the area, including the DCE and the traditional authorities, to ensure that royalties are paid, local jobs are created, reliefs and overall progress in the area is achieved.
Stephen Yakubu, the Regional Minister, on his part, said he was elated that the job creation project has been instituted in his region.
He assured that they will implement the measures contained in the CMS manual and employed the youth in the area to commit to the project for it to succeed.
He also assured that the ‘gold katcha’, which was donated by the government, will be used for its intended purpose.
The paramount chief of the Bongo Traditional Area, Naba Baba Salifu Atamaale, was optimistic that the scheme will provide the necessary employment in the area and added that mining must be done within the confines of the law and that he would, in his capacity as chief, ensure that the laws are obeyed.
