Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Takoradi, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, has made some policy proposals that could help restructure and improve the country’s mining sector.
Among the key proposal he made was the change in the shareholding structure of Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod).
He suggested that the shareholding structure should move from 100 per cent government ownership to 40 per cent government ownership.
He added that 25 per cent should go to the miners, 20 per cent to traders and 15 per cent to chiefs.
This, he said, will ensure all stakeholders are on board in policy formulation and action.
He also mentioned the establishment of a mining bank to support miners to help cut off funding from money launderers who have a disregard for environmental and responsible mining issues.
Speaking in an interview with DAILY GUIDE, the former Western Regional Minister also called for the decentralisation of all mining licensing to include chiefs.
He said all mining licensing should start and end in the districts and that the district mining committees already established by law should be allowed to operate and their decisions fully implemented.
Mr. Darko-Mensah said the various local licensing committees should be responsible for reclamation of mined areas.
He again suggested the appointment of one engineer to supervise every mining license issued to bring professionalism to bear on mining, particularly in the area of safety, water pollution, land restoration and proper use of approved chemicals and methods.
“This could ensure standards across the country and to achieve a good gold brand for Ghana,” he added.
The MP also suggested that revenue generated by mining firms should be shared at gross output.
He noted that 18 per cent of the revenue generated by the companies should go to the mining communities for development and investment.
“Two per cent should go to the District administration, five per cent should go into reclamation, replanting and restoration, another five per cent for royalty payments and 7O per cent for national coffers to be used for general national development,” he added.
Mr. Darko-Mensah said large mining companies according to the Ghana chamber of mines, contribute 26 per cent of their gross revenues to the state in various payments including payees, royalties, Corporate Social Responsibilities and corporate taxes among others.
He noted that even small scale miners producing at lower cost could do better or same.
He also called for the development of tailing dam for aluvia miners by their assigned engineers or creation of processing centers to help eradicate pollution of water bodies.
“Mining towns should also be redeveloped, upgraded with projects supervised by the Regional Coordinating Councils with proper funding from the national capital,” the MP noted.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi