Give AGA concessions to right investors : Mineworkers urge govt
The Ghana Mineworkers Union (GMWU), has urged the government to use the concession released by AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) as a catalyst to revamp the economies of the local communities.
It proposed the institutionalisation of an integrated development plan for the management of mining concession to boost the local economy of mining towns in a sustainable manner.
However, it cautioned the government not to allow politics to dictate the mode of giving out the concession.
A statement issued by the union in Accra and signed by its General Secretary, Mr Prince William Ankrah, said, “We wish to call on the government to guard against the temptation of giving out the concession based on partisan political affiliations. We should bear in mind that any partisan consideration in awarding the concession will not serve the national good.”
The GMWU expressed its desire to see the mining industry serve as a catalyst for sustainable development in mining-rich communities, as evidenced in the cases of Johannesburg in South Africa and California in the United States America.
It said the two are shining examples where mining has permeated their development agenda and that is the vision the country should have for Obuasi and other mining towns.
“The union believes the ultimate goal of attracting potential investors into the concession is to ensure a beehive of economic activities for sustained growth in the beneficiary communities. It is important to avoid committing similar mistakes where after more than 100 years of mining, the country cannot boast any enviable development in Obuasi and other communities towns.”
Released concession
AngloGold Ashanti (Ghana) began the voluntary process to surrender about 60 per cent of the Obuasi mine concession to government in November 2013.
It has been implemented by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources (MLNR) and is expected to provide an opportunity for the government and MLNR to use the land as it sees fit, including encouraging a range of socio-economic development activities in Obuasi.
Recommendation
The GMWU has, therefore, urged the government to, as a matter of urgency, constitute a team of experts to advise on the best way to utilise the concession, and also ensure that the concession would be assigned to serious minded investors with proven track record of doing business in the mining sector.
“The plan should among others give priority to building the capacities of our small-scale miners so that they can become captains of the mining industry tomorrow. The sad state of affairs of infrastructural deficit, such as poor road network, poor township layout and lack of sustained economic activities which have become the lot of the mining towns should give way to a new dawn of development with vibrant economy,” the union said.
Galamsey
“Another area we are calling for immediate action is for the government to keep all mining concessions off limit to illegal miners (galamseyers). The galamsey situation keeps worsening by the day and there is the need to confront it head on so that it does not undermine investor confidence and the continuous foreign direct investment (FDI) into the mining in Ghana’s mining sector, with dire consequences for the economy.
“We, particularly urge the government agencies tasked with maintaining security around mining concessions to be ruthless in dealing with people who engages in galamsey activities.
“Let us avoid the sad situation where we look on hopelessly for mining concessions to be destroyed with impunity with the local communities and Ghana in general as the ultimate losers. The threat to the life of our cherished miners at the concessions cannot be sacrificed on the altar of any greedy individual who do not care about Ghana’s economic development.”