Hon Mike Hammah And Hon. Sherry Ayittey In A Group Picture With Nana Yaw Gyam, Etweboahene (2 From Left), Nana Frimpong Manso Ababio (middle) Paboasehene And Nana Opong Kyekyeku,Akotihene (right) After The Meeting.
Mike Hammah (MP), Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, has revealed that a new Minerals Development Fund Bill being developed for the consideration of Parliament would reflect the commitment of government to boost infrastructure development in mining communities.
The bill would make room for the establishment of a Development Scheme into which proceeds from royalty payments and development funds of mining companies, as well as other relevant sources, would be paid.
The funds mobilized would be used by a Local Development Committee exclusively for developing infrastructure projects for mining communities.
Under the Bill, a Local Development Committee under the chairmanship of the District Chief Executive for the respective mining areas would be constituted to identify, plan and execute infrastructure projects with funding from the Mining Community Development Scheme.
The minister explained that the new institutional, legal and regulatory reform, which was also designed to enhance the participation of Ghanaians in the entire value chain in the mining industry, would also facilitate, among others, the processing of compensation and re-settlement claims.
It would prescribe guidelines for rolling out corporate social responsibility projects, set health and safety standards, tackle environmental issues and resolve issues arising from blasting activities of mining companies, among others.
Mr. Hammah made this known when he met the chiefs and elders of Paboase, Akoti and Etweboa communities in the catchment area of Kinross Chirano Gold Mines Limited in the Sefwi Wiawso District.
The meeting formed part of the minister’s familiarisation tour of mining communities and companies in the Western region to learn at first-hand challenges confronting the mining industry and communities and to evolve compromises to forge a harmonious environment for the development of the mining industry in Ghana.
The visit also provided Mr. Hammond the opportunity to mediate on differences between the mine and the communities in its catchment over compensation paid for farms in the concession of Kinross Chirano Gold Mines Limited.
Sherry Ayittey, Sector Minister for Environment, Science and Technology who was also with her colleague minister called on the chiefs and citizens of the 3 communities to demonstrate restraint and goodwill as it would take time for the company to fully roll out projects under its corporate social responsibility programmes.
She said the service of a consultant was being sought to advice and help with the determination of the quantum of compensation that had been paid to members of the communities so far, as well as put together a schedule of all outstanding claims to enable government resolve the impasse.
Nana Frimpong Manso, Chief of Paboase who spoke on behalf of the other chiefs, rebuked Kinross Chirano for reneging on its pledge to develop the communities.
He also catalogued a number of unfulfilled promises including failure to expand the Paboase Community Clinic, rehabilitate the Paboase road and provide enough employment opportunities for the youth in the area.
The chief also pleaded with the company to award good contracts to the natives, construct a vocational and a model senior secondary school and demonstrate commitment to rehabilitate houses destroyed by the company’s blasting activities.
Nana Manso also called on government to increase the 10 percent of mining royalties paid to the stools to enhance development and involve traditional rulers in the fashioning and signing of mining license.
To the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, the chief wanted him to direct his agencies to step up monitoring operations to check possible pollution of water bodies with harmful substances like cyanide by the mining company.
By Emelia Ennin Abbey
