Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Hon. George Mireku Duker has reiterated the need for mineral-rich African countries to ensure that whilst they attract investments into their various countries, they also make sure that the investments yield the necessary benefits for the citizenry.
He made this call at the 21st Edition of the Africa Down Under Conference (ADU) conference held in Perth, Australia a few days ago.
The ADU is the leading forum for Australian-African business and government relations, which has grown to become the largest African-focused mining event held outside Africa.
Speaking at the conference on behalf of the sector Minister, Hon. Duker indicated that the citizenry must derive benefits along the mining value chain right from Pre-Feasibility, Prospecting, Exploration, and – Development right through to Marketing and Mine Closure.
He said the conscious drive to ensure that the citizens are not shortchanged in the process can only be achieved through effective local content and participation laws and regulations.
Hon. Duker stressed that Ghana’s stable democracy, rich mining history, and continuous mineral discoveries like the recent lithium discovery make Ghana a haven to invest.
Again, he emphasized that Ghana’s stable legal and fiscal mining regime makes Ghana the best mining investment destination in Africa.
The Deputy Minister added that the discovery of Lithium and other strategic minerals will play a critical role in the clean energy campaign going forward.
During a panel discussion with Australia’s Mines Minister, Hon. Bill Johnston; Australia’s Assistant Foreign Minister, Tim Watts; Burkina Faso’s Minister for Mines and Quarries, Hon. Simon Pierre Boussim; Nigeria’s Minister for Solid Minerals Development, Hon. Henry Dele Alake and Uganda’s Minister of Energy and Minerals Development, Hon. Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu, Hon. Duker called on colleague African countries to ensure that they are not just attracting investments, but investments that will yield the necessary benefit to Citizens of our various countries.
