Dr. Steve Manteaw
The Ghana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (GHEITI) is worried about the purported low level of infrastructural development in mining communities in the country.
According to GHEITI, the mining communities always bear the brunt whenever there is any mining related accident.
“So the fact that the level of development in such areas does not befit or reflect the minerals resources obtained in those areas, should be a great concern to all”, GHEITI added.
This came to light during the a programme organized by GHEITI to discuss its 2021/2022 Oil and Gas Sector Report as well as the Artisanal Small Scale Mining Report at Beyin in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region.
It was also aimed at providing stakeholders with a comprehensive overview of the latest findings, recommendations and progress within the sector.
Co-chairman of GHEITI, Dr. Steve Manteaw stressed the need for the government to continue giving proper account on all extractive minerals transactions in the country.
Touching on the government’s Gold For Oil Policy, Dr. Manteaw suggested to the government to make known the various intermediaries in the transactions and how much the government is spending on it.
He mentioned that giving proper account on the initiative would go a long way to help Ghanaians appreciate its full benefit.
In an address read on his behalf, the Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, noted that the country’s oil and gas as well as the mining sectors are fast growing.
He pointed out that the sectors are also playing positive roles in the country’s economy and putting the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to a stable condition adding, “and this has helped to shape our economy”.
Ampain Chief, Nana Nyameke Fofole II, described the seminar as an eye opener as it has helped chiefs in the mining areas to understand what the various revenues from oil and gas are being used for.
He, however, stressed that the districts where the various resources are obtained have seen little infrastructural developments.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Beyin
