A Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, George Mireku Duker, says the mining sector has, for centuries, served as the bedrock of Ghana’s socio-economic development, and that every policy initiative rolled out was geared towards the purgation of the sector to enhance revenue generation capacity.
According to him, in 2021, gold contributed about 16.48% of government revenue, and 35.6% in terms of total merchandise exports. He added that the country generated export revenue of $5.083 billion from the exportation of 2.820 million ounces of gold.
Delivering the keynote address at the opening day of the West African Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (WAIMM) Annual Industry Conference in Accra yesterday, he explained that the government was pursuing a drive to diversify the mining sector by creating a refinery hub for bauxite and iron in the country.
The Deputy Minister also told the Conference that government was determined to build a mining sector, which was resilient and fortified enough to withstand the next global crisis.
He disclosed that the industry had been hit badly by the Russian-Ukraine war and Covid-19, but the government, as part of its economic reform, was introducing new policies that lead to the creation of an economy that would be able to repel the shocks of the next global crisis.
According to the Deputy Minister, the mining industry had taken the lead in the reformation drive, through the promotion of responsible and sustainable mining practises.
Mireku Duker said the theme for the two-day conference, which was “Building A Resilient and Sustainable Natural Resources Industry Beyond Global Pandemic,” tied in perfectly with the new direction being pursued by the government in the extractive sector.
He argued that the Conference provided the platform for the exchange of ideas in addressing the problems that hit the sector due to the global crises.
“The Conference also seeks to provide the platform for discussing appropriate and innovative ways of addressing global and national challenges confronting national development through mining,” he said.
“I’m also glad to learn that event is dedicated to not only knowledge sharing and the dissemination of innovations but also to develop existing business interest in the country and promoting new opportunities in the value chain of the oil and gas and mining sectors,” he added.
The 5th Annual WAIMM Industry Conference WAIC2022 seeks to provide an excellent opportunity for networking, high-end industry solutions, latest development in industry practices and operations, technological and technical recommendations to solve industry challenges and knowledge sharing with experts and both local and international consultants.
The conference features industry leaders and experts in a packed program of key note presentations and panels discussing policies, operations, investment strategies, diversity & inclusion, global exploration and commodity trends and industry sustainability.
