Installations Of Equipment Makes Shaanxi A Large Scale Mining Company- Lands Minister

The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, John Peter Amewu has observed that the installation of the heavy mining equipment of the Shaanxi Ghana Mining Company Limited at the Gbane Community in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region makes the Company a large scale mining Company. 

The Company since in 2009 claims to be providing mining support services to two Small Scale mining entities known as “Yenyeya and Pobortaaba” who acquired 50 acres of land as mining concession. 

The sector Minister was accompanied by the Upper East Regional Minister, Rockson Bukari and some officials from the Mining Inspectorate division made the observation when they paid a working visit to the operational areas of the Company. 

Mr. Amewu after the inspection of the facility and deliberating with the Management of the Company, directed that the Company regularizes its activities by applying for a large scale mining license to avoid the dodging the payment of taxes and royalties.
 
He stressed that the ruling Government is not against any mining investor but the methodology and approach to mining, stressing this government under the able leadership of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was much interested in Private Sector Partnership. 

He stated that the country’s Natural Resources that are taken from the country are more than that of Johannesburg, South Africa, which is one of the endowed country of natural resources and yet this was miss- matched to the development of the country.
 
"It is very regrettable to see the unsustainable manner in which some large and small scale mining companies engaged in mining activities destroying the environment, agricultural land and our water bodies," he said.
 
Mr. Amewu said, he directed that, a research be conducted  on the micro level of mined areas in one of the regions so as to mapped out activity to reclaim the land for agriculture purposes but it was realized that micro level on the land are extremely high for reclamation. 
 
The Minister expressed appreciation for the contribution of Shanxi Ghana Mining Company limited for complementing the governments’ efforts in the areas of job creation, education, agriculture and health among others, he appealed to Mining Companies particularly foreign ones to endeavor to abide by the terms and regulation of the mining laws of the country. 

He also assured the management of the Company that their plea to lift the suspension placed on the Company’s operation as result of the alleged inhaling of poisonous gas by some illegal miners who invaded the company underground  be lifted  to pave way for the sent home workers to return. 

The Minister expressed the optimism that the acquisition of large scale mining license by the Company will not only lead to the creation of more jobs but will help generate income and the payment of taxes and royalties to the Assembly, traditional council as well as the government. 

The Sector Minister who entreated Mining Company operating in the same geographical area to co-exist peacefully, also impressed upon the management of the Companies not to drive away illegal small scale miners but to  employ them.


GBC