Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia exchanging pleasantries with the Chiefs
Vice President and flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has promised to make key changes to Ghana’s mining laws if voted as President in the 2024 elections.
He indicated that one of the major changes he would bring as President is the formalisation of small-scale mining.
The Vice President was addressing the Western Regional House of Chiefs as part of his Western Regional campaign tour.
Dr. Bawumia assured that, chiefs would play an essential role in the issuance of mining licenses to miners in their respective communities.
“My government will formalise small-scale mining, but we cannot be successful without the participation of our revered chiefs.
“Our chiefs have to be part of the licensing of miners in their localities. They have to be part of the whole process”, the Vice President stressed.
He also indicated that, under his presidency, the mining laws of the country would be amended to allow for the localisation of important mining agencies like the Minerals Commission and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
“We will decentralize the Minerals Commission to be in the various districts and ensure that the EPA is also in all the districts,” the Vice President pointed out.
Dr. Bawumia earlier interacted with religious leaders in Takoradi, met with the fisher folks at European Town near Sekondi as well as small scale miners and other youth groups in Tarkwa.
The Acting President of the Western Regional House of Chiefs, Awulae Amihere Kpainyili commended the Vice President for the various policies he has initiated towards improving the living standards of the people.
He, however, appealed to the government to double its efforts in the development of the region’s infrastructural projects since the area produces the chunk of the nation’s natural resources.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi