The Minister for Mines and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, says Ghana cannot fully benefit from its mineral resource endowment if the country fails to develop its own mining technologies.
Samuel Abu Jinapor who said this at the 8th UMaT Biennial International Mining and Mineral Conference in Tarkwa said although Ghana as far as the fourteen hundreds contributed 30 percent of Global gold output, the country has still not maximised benefits from gold mining due to lack of locally developed mining technologies.
“Our country has a long history of mining. Indeed, between the years 1493 and 1600, Ghana accounted for as much as thirty-six per cent (36%) of global gold output. Today, we are the leading producer of gold in Africa, alongside substantial production of other minerals like bauxite, manganese and diamonds.
“But we cannot reap the full benefits of these minerals, and other mineral endowments if we fail to develop the right tools and technologies, through innovation. It is by harnessing the power of innovation that we can maximise efficiency, reduce waste, and create a knowledge-driven mining sector. It is by the power of technology that we can address the historical environmental and social challenges associated with mining, promote energy efficiency and build a circular economy,” he said.
Speaking on the theme of the conference; “Innovation in Mining and Mineral Processing; Expanding the Frontiers of Mining Technology,” Samuel Abu Jinapor noted that the lack of Ghana’s mining technology is the reason for the country’s lower earnings from mineral extraction and the environmental degradation.
He however called on the many researchers assembled at the International mining conference to help come out with the right technologies through research.
“It is through innovation that we can increase production and add more value to the minerals we produce. This Conference creates a unique platform for us to examine some of the most important issues in the mining industry, particularly the role of technology and innovation in building a green, sustainable and safe mining industry.
“It is an invitation to all of us, particularly industry players and academia, to assess past and current mining practices, vis-à-vis the industry we seek to build. And more importantly, it is a call to broaden our frontiers, and scale up research to develop affordable and innovative technologies to promote green and sustainable mining and mineral processing,” he urged.
The Vice Chancellor of UMaT, Prof. Richard Kwasi Amankwah, who is hosting the eighth edition of the conference said a lot of research findings are to be presented at the mining conference to address the issue of technological innovations needed for Ghana to benefit from its mining resources.
“The main aim of this conference is to create a platform where researchers, engineers, academics and all persons who are interested in mining and innovation can come together to discuss their research and to present findings… we are happy about the discussions concerning green minerals and Ghana’s preparedness for value addition. We have authors and researchers who do about 80 different presentations about their research and their ideas as to how to move the minerals industry of Ghana forward.
“It is the expectation that by the end of the 8th UMaT Biennial International Mining Conference, there will be some research breakthroughs in Ghana developing its own mining technologies for the country to fully benefit from mining.”
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