Dr Ato Forson (3rd from left)
Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has announced that Perseus Mining (Ghana) Limited has paid GH¢391.195 million (US$35 million) in dividends to the Government of Ghana.
According to the Minister, the payment represents a significant increase from the US$5 million dividend paid by the mining company to the state last year.
Dr Ato Forson attributed the increase to the company’s improved profitability, saying the higher dividend demonstrates the need for Ghana to secure a fairer share of returns from its mineral resources.
“Ghana must receive its fair share from the extractive sector,” the Finance Minister said.
He said the government’s introduction of the sliding-scale royalty system was intended to ensure that the state’s returns increase when mining companies record stronger earnings.
“That is why we introduced the sliding-scale system: when mining companies earn more, the people of Ghana must benefit more,” he said.
