Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia, Vice President and New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer for the 2024 elections, has criticized Ghana’s mining sector for not delivering sufficient benefits to the nation.
Despite decades of mining activity, Bawumia claims that Ghana has not reaped the full rewards from its mineral resources.
Speaking to various stakeholders in the Jirapa, Sissala East, and West Constituencies, he outlined his proposed reforms aimed at rectifying these issues.
In his statement, Bawumia emphasized the need for significant policy changes to enhance the sector’s contributions to Ghana’s development.
“We need a Mining Development Bank to support and drive the growth of our mining industry,” he said.
He also proposed resourcing the Geological Survey Department for extensive exploration and ensuring that 100% of Ghanaian ownership is established for proven reserves intended for small-scale mining.
Additionally, Bawumia advocated for the creation of plant pools in mining areas to promote shared user facilities, which he believes will boost local economic activity.
He suggested decentralizing the mining licensing regime to all mining districts and promoting licensed community mining schemes.
“These measures will not only create jobs but also increase wealth among Ghanaians,” he added.
