The Lands and Natural Resources Minister-Designate and Member of Parliament (MP) for Damongo Constituency, Mr. Samuel A. Jinapor, has asserted that his objective is to work to achieve the President’s goal of ensuring a viable, sustainable and regulated small scale mining sector in Ghana.
He gave this indication when he appeared before the Appointments Committee of Parliament yesterday.
The Minister-Designate when he took his turn before the Appointments Committee said “ Mr. Chairman, I respectfully hold the considered view that the only route to sanitizing the small scale mining sector is to regulate every aspect of their operations. Community mining as a mining scheme can help us attain the goal of viable, sustainable and regulated small scale mining industry in Ghana”.
He further talked about the need to put together the framework to promote large scale mining as well as enhance investment in exploration in Ghana. Ghanaian indigenous participation in large scale mining was a major priority for him. He committed to work with all stakeholders with the view of achieving the overarching vision of the President in building here in Ghana, a viable, sustainable and booming mining industry for the benefit of the Ghanaian people. Mr. Jinapor talked about regulation and enforcement of the well thought out and comprehensive legal regime on small scale mining in Ghana. Further, the Minister- Designate insisted that his policy on small scale mining will be “regulation regulation and regulation “. A regulated, sustainable, and robust small scale mining which has regard for the protection of the environment and water bodies in our country will be my overarching objective, Hon. Jinapor intimated strongly.
Speaking eloquently and brilliantly about how he intends to work with all stakeholders with the ultimate goal of attaining the noble vision of the President of the Republic for the efficient and sustainable management and utilization of the Lands and Natural Resources of our country, the legislator from Damongo Constituency gave a firm assurance to serve in honesty, integrity and courage.
Giving further details about mining in Ghana, Mr. Jinapor called for a national debate on the structure of the structure of Ghana’s mining industry. Currently, Ghana has a two(2) tier mining structure I.e small scale and large scale whereas other countries have a three(3) tier mining structure. He asked for a discussion as to whether or not it will be useful to have a medium scale sector which will permit foreigners to participate if they invested a certain minimum capital. He referred to a position paper by the World Bank’s artisanal and small scale formalization project which advocated for the introduction of a medium scale mining sector in Ghana.
Mr. Jinapor told the Appointments Committee that, if approved, he intends to role out a well thought out afforestation program which will see massive forest cover by planting millions of trees a year. He referred to the remarkable intervention of Ethiopia in afforestation where the President of the country every treat leads a tree planting exercise. This he referred to as the Green Ghana project.
Digitization of the records of the Lands Commission and a vigorous implementation of the new Lands Act, 2020 (Act 1036) are his priority for the Lands Sector. He believes the effective implementation of these two interventions will help a great deal in reforming the Lands Sector.
Mr. Jinapor made a solemn pledge to the Appointments Committee that given the nod, he will oversee the efficient utilization and protection of the Lands and Natural resources of Ghana since in his worlds “the Lands and Natural Resources of Ghana are the properties of the Ghanaian people vested in their President to be held in trust for their benefit”.
The members of the Appointments Committee asked several questions and in the end they seemed highly impressed with the delivery and performance of the Minister Designate. It has been reported that the Committee is set to deliberate and take decisions on all the nominees sometime next week.
