Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s plan for the mining sector emphasizes sustainable growth, environmental protection, local development, and value addition to create a mining industry that drives economic growth and benefits Ghanaians. It includes promoting mercury-free gold catcher machines for eco-friendly mining, reforming fiscal policies to incentivize exploration, and expanding the Bank of Ghana’s Gold Purchase Programme to include small-scale miners, enhancing local market access.
This strategy includes creating value chains for minerals like aluminum, lithium, and salt, fostering job creation in mining-adjacent industries, and reclaiming mined lands for farming. To boost competitiveness, Dr. Bawumia aims to allocate affordable power to mineral-based industries and mitigate illegal mining’s impact on cocoa-growing areas. Strengthening local content policies, supporting small-scale miners, establishing gold refineries, and implementing traceability systems will promote transparency and regional involvement.
Finally, he envisions critical infrastructure development, such as new railway lines, to reduce transport costs and enhance Ghana’s position in the global mining sector. This comprehensive approach seeks to make Ghana a sustainable, prosperous African mining hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: What steps will Bawumia’s government take to protect the environment from the harmful effects of small-scale mining?
Answer: The Bawumia administration plans to scale up the use of mercury-free gold catcher machines. This initiative is aimed at reducing environmental pollution caused by mercury use in small-scale gold mining. The policy will promote cleaner technologies that ensure safer mining practices for both the miners and the environment.
Question 2: How does Bawumia’s policy support small-scale miners financially and technically?
Answer: The Bawumia administration will expand the Bank of Ghana’s Gold Purchase Programme, which will increase financial support for small-scale miners. In addition, the government will provide technical expertise, equipment, and financing to help small-scale miners improve their operations. This holistic approach aims to enhance productivity while maintaining environmentally sustainable practices.
Question 3: What are the plans to create jobs in mining and mining-related industries?
Answer: The Bawumia government intends to create jobs by developing the minerals value chain, particularly in sectors like aluminum, gold, lithium, manganese, and salt. This includes promoting downstream processing industries like aluminum smelting and diamond cutting, as well as encouraging value addition to gold and other minerals locally. The government also plans to support small-scale mining, which is a key source of employment in mining communities.
Question 4: How will the government promote local participation in large-scale mining operations?
Answer: To ensure that Ghanaians benefit directly from the mining sector, the government will strengthen local content policies. These policies will ensure Ghanaian participation in large-scale mining projects, both as employees and as suppliers of goods and services to the mining industry. This approach will boost local businesses and enhance the domestic economy.
Question 5: What initiatives will be introduced to reclaim land used for mining?
Answer: The Bawumia administration will collaborate with the private sector to reclaim land used for mining and repurpose it for farming. This will involve restoring degraded mining land, making it suitable for agriculture, and providing livelihoods for local communities after mining activities cease.
Question 6: What is the government’s approach to promoting value addition in the mining sector?
Answer: The Bawumia administration is committed to encouraging gold and diamond beneficiation industries. This includes establishing new gold refineries and creating traceability systems to enhance transparency and accountability in the sector. By adding value to raw minerals locally, the government aims to increase revenue and create jobs.
