A delegation from Zambia’s ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources, led Paul C. Kabuswe, has visited their Ghanaian counterparts, ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, to familiarise themselves with operations at the Ministry, particularly on issues relating to the mining sector in Ghana.
Mr Paul C. Kabuswe told the deputy minister for Lands and Natural Resources, in charge of mines, George Mireku, who received the delegation on behalf of his minister, John Jinapor, that the visit to Ghana was to basically study Ghana’s Small Scale Mining Sector, exchange ideas and to learn best practice in the Ghanaian mining space.
He noted that for Africa to prosper, there must be strong and closer collaboration among African countries. “We need to collaborate and share ideas to help harness our resources as Africans and liberate ourselves economically, because we are not yet economically powerful as a continent, and as such I believe it is time we come together and exchange views and not to stay aloof.”
He disclosed that Zambia has recently discovered gold and wants to embark on a very robust minerals explosion to ensure the mineral does not end up in wrong hands, adding that the country is mapping up the entire Zambia to among others help understand the extent of Mineralisation within the country.
He also noted that they have taken the decision to clean up their license system because they believe that “mining starts at licensing stage and if you don’t get it right from the beginning, you miss the point and, therefore, you must get it right from the beginning.”
He said to ensure an all-inclusive system, they have set themselves on a part to reorganise the mining sector of Zambia with a new mining policy framework to ensure this is strongly in place.
According to Kabuswe, his country believes Africa has the human resources to achieve whatever goal she has set for herself.
George Mireku Duker on his part updated the delegation on Ghana’s efforts to improve on the mining sector through its regulatory framework and decentralisation. He said he is happy that Zambia has shown interest in Ghana’s mining sector, disclosing that up to 500 companies have also shown their interest in the exploration of same and also harness opportunities in the country.
On value addition, Mr Duker said the Government, through the ministry, has set up agencies like GISDEC and GIADEC to promote and develop an integrated bauxite, aluminium, Iron and steel industry in Ghana.
He said as part of Ghana’s contribution to the Minamata Convention, government has procured mercury-free mining equipment, which efficiently recovers more Gold for artisanal and small scale miners and also encourage responsible mining in the country.
The delegation also paid a similar visit to the Mining regulator in Ghana, Minerals Commission and Precious Minerals and Marketing Company, which among others promotes the development of precious minerals and jewellery in Ghana.
By Wilhelmina Love Abananave
