The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Samuel A. Jinapor has received the findings and recommendations of the Prof. Amankwah led 5-member Committee to review the Health and Safety regime for the Mining industry.
He received the report on Monday, March 14, 2022.
The Minister after receiving the report indicated that the government will take the report seriously.
“Government is going to take the findings and recommendations of this report very seriously and we are going to pursue them to the latter. Of course, we will study the report and make our own conclusions and views about the content of the report”
“I have no doubt that if not all, most of the findings and recommendations which have been made by this Committee will be taken on board and implemented” he indicated.
He further posited that considering the expertise of the Committee chair and members, he is confident that the findings of the reports provided will indeed be an invaluable asset that will guide matters to do with the health and safety regime of the mining sector in Ghana.
“What we want to ensure is a mining sector which is fit for purpose, which is serving the people, contributing to the national economy and which is safe so that we do not have a recurrent of what occurred at Appiatse and that’s exactly what we want to forestall” he stressed.
He added that “We couldn’t have assembled a better team than we did giving the expertise the five of you bring to the table. The expertise of diverse areas with enormous experience from your various fields. We are very grateful for such extensive work done”
Presenting the report, the Chairman of the Committee, Prof. Richard Amankwah who doubles as Vice-Chancellor of the George Grant University of Mines and Technology ( UMaT) revealed the committee had to s3nd out 20 letters to various entities and professional bodies to source out information as part of efforts to aid them do their work.
He was optimistic the findings and recommendations were broadly appropriate.
But quickly suggested that the recommendations be reconsidered every now and then and tweaked to bring it up to speed to the changing trends of the industry considering the dynamic nature of the mining industry.
The Lands Minister set up this committee on 7th February 2022 following the Appiatse explosion incident which claimed thirteen (13) lives and destroyed the entire Appiatse community.
The other members of the Committee are Prof. Grace Ofori-Sarpong, a professor representing the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, Ms. Effie Oppong-Fosu, an associate representing the Ghana Bar Association, Mr. Benjamin Aryee, a former Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, and Mr. Kwesi Enyan, a former Inspector of Mines, and a former Managing Director of AngloGold Ashanti.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
