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Minerals House
#12 Switchback Road
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Cantonment - Accra
GL- 060 -1131
Government to Support Small-Scale and Community Mining with 100 Mercury-Free Technology Plants
The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. George Mireku Duker (MP) has embarked on a working visit to Medie in the Greater Accra Region to inspect 100 mercury-free equipment (popularly called Gold Kacha) which has been procured by the Government through the Minerals Commission as part of the policy interventions to curb the menace of galamsey and promote sustainable responsible small-scale mining operations in the country.
Hon. Duker undertook the visit on Monday, April 25, 2022 and was accompanied by a delegation from the Minerals Commission led by Mr. Joseph Nayan, Deputy Chief Executive Officer (Support Services) and officials from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.
In an interview with the media, Hon. Duker stressed that the 100 Gold Kacha plants are expected to be commissioned by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on June 6, 2022 when the full complement of equipment procured are delivered. He explained that the mercury-free technology is environmentally friendly and will protect our water bodies, mining communities and the citizenry from the harmful effects of mercury. He stated that the financing arrangement for the purchase and utilization of the plant will be handled by the Minerals Commission as the regulator of the mining industry in the country.
The Deputy Minister emphasized that the green technology would improve the processing and recovery of gold ore from the current 45% to about 90%. He appealed that the activities of government should be supported in the effort at protecting the country’s natural resources for generations yet unborn. He encouraged Ghanaians to venture into responsible small-scale mining in line with the laws of Ghana. He said, “our traditional rulers and elders who are custodians of their respective lands should help government eradicate illegal mining which has become a canker in the mining communities”.
Government, he noted has empowered and resourced the Operation Halt Taskforce to undertake their anti-galamsey duties and warned all persons engaged in illegal mining to desist from it as the full rigours of the law has been activated to deal with any person found to have engaged in galamsey.
Inauguration of Community Mining at Kunsu in Ahafo Ano South-West District in the Ashanti Region.
Hon. George Mireku Duker (MP), Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources at the Palace of Otumfuo’s Hiahene, Nana Professor Oheneba Boachie-Adjei, Chief of Kunsu
Hon. George Mireku Duker (MP), assisted by Prof. Oheneba Boachie-Adjei to commission the Community Mining at Kunsu.
Group picture of dignitaries and Kunsu Community Mine Workers at the ceremony.
Hon. Duker in a pose with the traditional leaders of Kunsu and other dignitaries at the event.
Inauguration of Community Mining at Tokwae in the Asante Akyem South.
Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor (MP), commissioning the Tokwae Community Mining, assisted by Nana Eyim Kum Nipa II, Omanhene of Gyadam.
Mercury Free Gold Kacha processing plant being demonstrated by officials from Commodity Monitor at the ceremony.
Hon. Minister and Deputy Minister in a pose with dignitaries and Tokwae Community Mining Workers
Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor (MP), having a feel of gold processed with the Mercury Free Gold Kacha.
Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor (MP), Minister for Lands and Natural Resources inaugurates a 5-member Committee of Inquiry led by Prof. Richard Amankwah to review Health and Safety Standards in the Mining Sector
Members of the Ministerial Committee of Inquiry are Prof. Richard Amankwah, Vice Chancellor of George Grant University of Mines and Technology, Prof. Grace Ofori-Sarpong, Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences and Dean of the School of Postgraduate Studies at George Grant University of Mines and Technology, Ms. Effie Oppong-Fosu, Ghana Bar Association, Mr. Benjamin Aryee, former CEO of the Minerals Commission and Advisor on Mining, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. Kwesi Enyan, Mining Engineer, former Inspector of Mines and Managing Director of AngloGold Ashanti.
Board Chairperson, Hon. Barbara Oteng- Gyasi and Martin K. Ayisi, CEO of Minerals Commission present at the inauguration of the Ministerial Committee of Inquiry to review Health and Safety Standards.
Government hands over 20 pickup vehicles and other equipment to Minerals Commission to enhance operations
Government hands over 20 pickup vehicles and other equipment to Minerals Commission to enhance operations
Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor (MP), Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, assisted by Hon. George Mireku Duker (MP) Deputy Minister, Hon. Barbara Oteng-Gyasi, Board Chairperson of Minerals Commission cutting tape to officially handover vehicles and other equipment to Mr. Martin Ayisi, CEO of Minerals Commission. The equipment included 10 blast monitors, 187 all-in-one desktops, 68 laptops, 11 photocopiers, 19 printers, 1 backup storage device, 102 UPS machines, 5 scanners, 2 plotters, 3 projectors, and 3 survey tools.
Mincom Donates GHS2,000,000.00 to Appiatse Support Fund
Mincom Donates GHS2,000,000.00 to Appiatse Support Fund.
Minerals Commission’s Board Chairperson, Hon. Barbara Oteng-Gyasi, and Mr. Martin Ayisi, CEO of the Commission presenting a dummy cheque to Dr. Joyce Aryee, Chairperson of Appiatse Support Fund as part of the rebuilding of the community after the destruction caused by the explosion.
Inauguration of Mincom Board
The nine (9) member governing Board of the Minerals Commission was inaugurated on September 8, 2021 by the Hon. Samuel Abu Jinapor (Minister of Lands and Natural Resources) at the Conference room of the Ministry.
1st Ghana Gold Expo 2020
The Western Regional Coordinating Council from March 8 – 10, 2020 held the 1st Ghana Gold Expo 2020 in Takoradi aimed at promoting and deepening bilateral and multi-lateral co-operation and collaboration among key players in the gold industry to promote responsible gold mining and sourcing in Africa and beyond.
The Expo, which was a collaboration between Aurum Monaco and the Western Regional Coordinating Council also sought to create a synergy among stakeholders as well as provide an appropriate framework to bring transparency in the gold trade across the globe, and showcase Ghana (Western Region) as the hub for gold related activities and further expose participants to new technologies and innovations in the gold mining industry.
In his address, Hon. Kwaku Asomah Cheremeh, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources noted that the Gold Expo is in line with the President’s commitment to promoting responsible mining in order to derive the maximum benefit from the exploitation of Ghana’s premium natural resources to stimulate broad based growth and development. He called on stakeholders in the gold trade value-chain to partner with policy makers to fashion out industry best practices to ensure fair trade in gold.
The board Chairman of the Minerals Commission, Hon. S.K. Boafo in his speech touted Ghana’s feat in 2018 as the number one gold producer in Africa. He said, this achievement has undoubtedly brought much more attention to Ghana and its gold mining practices.
According to the Board Chairman, the Commission is collaborating with other stakeholders to complete the national action plan on Minamata Convention to eliminate mercury use in gold processing by end of 2020. He noted further that, the Commission working with the sector Ministry, in implementing the Government’s Community Mining Scheme will to a large extent address the illegal mining menace.