President John Dramani Mahama has announced a policy to transition mining companies in Ghana from owner mining to contract mining by indigenous companies, in a move aimed at increasing local participation in the mining industry.
Speaking at the official opening of the Mining in Motion conference in Accra on Monday(October 19), he said the policy was intended to create greater opportunities for Ghanaian companies to participate directly in mining operations.
“We also have introduced a local content policy that transitions our mining companies from owner mining to contract mining by indigenous companies so that we can have more indigenous participation in our mining industries,” he said.
President Mahama also assured workers currently employed at operating gold mines that the transition would not affect their remuneration or conditions of service.
“I want to reassure the workers who currently work for operating gold mines that the transfer to contract mining will not affect their remuneration or their conditions of service. They will be paid the same way as they were paid under their current administrations,” he said.
The President did not provide further details on the implementation timeline, the specific mining companies or operations covered by the policy, or how the transition would be carried out.
He called on participants at the conference to build partnerships with clear responsibilities, credible financing and measurable milestones, stressing the need for the mining sector to deliver greater economic benefits, skilled employment and opportunities for young people.
Listen to Mahama in the attached audio below:
