Government is set to present the Damang Mine agreement, together with other outstanding mining agreements, to Parliament for ratification as part of efforts to regularise key transactions within the mining sector.
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, disclosed this while addressing the media on the sidelines of the Ghana Chamber of Mines Breakfast Meeting.
The Damang Mine, previously operated by Gold Fields Ghana Limited, was recently handed over to Engineers and Planners after the Ghanaian-owned firm emerged successful in its bid for the concession.
According to the Minister, government has already engaged the leadership of Parliament ahead of the submission of the agreements for approval.
“We have already engaged the leadership of Parliament and given them a list of ratification that we intend to send to Parliament,” he said.
Mr. Armah-Kofi Buah explained that government had to ensure uninterrupted operations at the mine due to the thousands of jobs and host communities that depend on its activities. He further indicated that under powers vested in the Minerals Commission, steps could be taken to ensure mining operations continue while the ratification process is ongoing.
“We couldn’t let the mine not operate with thousands of jobs at stake and with communities whose economy depends on this mine,” he stated.
“So it is a practice in the industry that even as we work on those ratification, by the power vested in the authority of the Minerals Commission, we can ensure that the benefits of the people of Ghana is not stopped,” he added.
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