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6th May, 2010
Veep Urges More E.U. Support For Mining Sector
VICE-President John Dramani Mahama, yesterday called on the European Union (EU) to continue to support and strengthen the country’s mining sector which is key to the development and growth of the economy.
He noted that the EU’s assistance to the mining sector since 2002 through the Mining Sector Support Programme (MSSP), had helped tremendously to transform the sector.
The Vice President made the call in an address read on his behalf at the opening of an exhibition and conference in Accra, on the achievements of the mining sector support programme.
The conference was held under the theme: “Sustainable development of Ghana’s mining industry”.
More than 100 participants from across the mining sector and communities attended the conference which aimed at sustaining the country’s mining sector, economic performance and mitigate the negative environmental impact of the mines.
It is also aimed at promoting the diversification of minerals produce, increase the export revenue from mining and alleviate poverty by increasing employment in the sector.
Giving the genesis of the MSSP, the Vice President said the depressed gold prices and the introduction of high volume surface mining techniques required that measures were taken to ensure the sustainability of the mining sector.
Consequently, he said, the Minerals Commission applied to the European Commission for assistance which led to the signing of a formal agreement in 2002 for 40 million euros to implement various programmes and projects in the sector.
A programme management unit, he said, was therefore, established in accordance with the financing of the agreement which successfully co-ordinated the implementation of the programmes.
Mr Mahama said since its establishment, the MSSP had achieved so much, including the construction of a modern minerals information system and website to provide information to investors in a timely manner and boost foreign direct investment.
The Head of the EU in Ghana, Mr Clande Maer-ten, said information obtained so far from the projects undertaken under the MSSP, shows a considerable investment opportunities in the country’s mining sector and commended the implementers.
Mr Maerten also commended Ghana for being at the forefront in the implementation of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EIRI) which aims at promoting transparency in the transactions of the mining sector.
He expressed the hope that the country would pursue the EITI with increased vigour and extend it to the oil and gas sector.
He said the continuous implementation of the EITI would send a strong signal to the international community and Ghanaians that the government was committed to accountability and transparency in the vital sectors of the economy.
The Chief Executive of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Dr Joyce Aryee, who chaired the function, stressed the importance of the mining sector and called for support for it.
He noted that the EU’s assistance to the mining sector since 2002 through the Mining Sector Support Programme (MSSP), had helped tremendously to transform the sector.
The Vice President made the call in an address read on his behalf at the opening of an exhibition and conference in Accra, on the achievements of the mining sector support programme.
The conference was held under the theme: “Sustainable development of Ghana’s mining industry”.
More than 100 participants from across the mining sector and communities attended the conference which aimed at sustaining the country’s mining sector, economic performance and mitigate the negative environmental impact of the mines.
It is also aimed at promoting the diversification of minerals produce, increase the export revenue from mining and alleviate poverty by increasing employment in the sector.
Giving the genesis of the MSSP, the Vice President said the depressed gold prices and the introduction of high volume surface mining techniques required that measures were taken to ensure the sustainability of the mining sector.
Consequently, he said, the Minerals Commission applied to the European Commission for assistance which led to the signing of a formal agreement in 2002 for 40 million euros to implement various programmes and projects in the sector.
A programme management unit, he said, was therefore, established in accordance with the financing of the agreement which successfully co-ordinated the implementation of the programmes.
Mr Mahama said since its establishment, the MSSP had achieved so much, including the construction of a modern minerals information system and website to provide information to investors in a timely manner and boost foreign direct investment.
The Head of the EU in Ghana, Mr Clande Maer-ten, said information obtained so far from the projects undertaken under the MSSP, shows a considerable investment opportunities in the country’s mining sector and commended the implementers.
Mr Maerten also commended Ghana for being at the forefront in the implementation of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EIRI) which aims at promoting transparency in the transactions of the mining sector.
He expressed the hope that the country would pursue the EITI with increased vigour and extend it to the oil and gas sector.
He said the continuous implementation of the EITI would send a strong signal to the international community and Ghanaians that the government was committed to accountability and transparency in the vital sectors of the economy.
The Chief Executive of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Dr Joyce Aryee, who chaired the function, stressed the importance of the mining sector and called for support for it.
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