The Minister inspecting River Tano
The cessation of illegal mining activities, popularly called galamsey, on the Tano River appears to be yielding dividends because the river is recovering at a faster rate.
Through the effort of the Ministry for Lands and Natural Resources, the security operations dubbed ‘Operation Halt’ has brought some level of sanity on the Tano River which passes through the newly-created Western North Region, and the widespread and indiscriminate destruction of the water body has reduced.
Sector Minister Samuel Abu Jinapor who toured the region on Wednesday visited the section of the river around Bibiani to assess the situation, and lauded the taskforce for their effort to get the water back to normalcy.
He lauded the Regional Coordinating Council and called for sustained effort to ensure that the river fully returns to its original state.
On his part, the Mineral Commission’s District Manager for Bibiani, Emmanuel Bain said “the restoration of the river we see today comes at the back of the collaboration between the Western North Regional Coordinating Council, the Minerals Commission in the region and largely due to the policy directives of our abled Minister.”
The minister, as part of the tour also visited the Asante Gold Corporation, a mining company formally known as Mensin Gold, to verify how they carry out their operations and also to assure them of government’s commitment to support the mining sector.
The minister, in his submission, noted that the initial commitment made by the company indicates they needed government’s support to help revamp its operations.
The minister was happy that the company was making strides in such a short time considering the challenging state in which it was handed over to him as minister.
Mr. Jinapor maintained that he is fervently looking forward to leading the President to visit the mine and pour the first gold.
The Chief Operating Officer of the Bibiani Gold, Dave Anthony, disclosed that the project would employ some 300 more workers as add-ons to already 138 employed since August 19, 2021, adding “39.1% of the company is owned by Ghanaians and this is a feet worth celebrating as no African mining company can boast of same.”
In sharing the prospect, he also noted that the operations of the mine would yield the needed dividends if government support their operations.
The Board Chair of Mensin, Kwame Ofosuhene Apenteng, on his part, expressed his gratitude to the minister for the good works he has started and asked for a fiscal concession in the already made agreement between government and the company.
He also gave the assurance that for the trust reposed in them, his company will not go back on their words of hard work but deliver on the mandate given.