The Minerals Commission has commenced the implementation the fifth edition of the new procurement list which seeks to increase the items on the procurement list for the provision of goods and services from 41 to 50.
This replaces the fourth edition of the procurement list which was published by the Commission in early 2022.
The Minerals and Mining (Local Content and Local Participation) Regulations, 2020(L.I. 2431) came into force on 22 December 2020. The purpose of the Regulations among others is to promote job creation using local expertise, goods and services in the mining industry and their retention in the country. The law is also to achieve the minimum in-country spend for goods and services and create mining and mineral related industries that will sustain economic development.
Pursuant to Regulation 7 of L.I. 2431, the Commission is required to publish a local procurement list which stipulates the goods and services with Ghanaian content which are to be procured in the country. Regulation 7(3) of L.I. 2431 further states that the Commission shall review the procurement list annually.
Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Martin Ayisi, in a statement said the increase in the items on the list comes at the time when receipts from mineral revenues and investments hovers around US$ 10 Billion. For instance, there are four new projects with investment of about US$ 1.7 billion. The new projects are the US$ 850 million Ahafo North gold mine project by Newmont Ghana Gold Limited, US$ 500 million gold project currently under construction by Cardinal Namdini Mining limited in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region, the US$ 200 million gold mine to be constructed in the Upper West Region and the US$ 125 million lithium project at Ewoyaa in the Central Region.
Additionally, Mr. Ayisi stated that some mines are undertaking expansion and redevelopment. The Ahafo South mine of Newmont has been expanded to include the Subika underground and Golden Star Wassa is spending about a billion dollars to expand the Wassa underground mine. The mines being redevelop are the Anglogold Ashanti Obuasi mine where a billion dollars has been expended and the the Bibiani mine of Mensin Gold Ghana Limited which started production in the last quarter of 2022.
It is the expectation of the Minerals Commission that these investments will support the growth of the economy and boost local participation under the new procurement list.
