Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, has committed to dedicating a minimum of GH¢10 million each year to the Geological Survey Authority.
This pledge is part of the party’s plan to enhance the exploration of Ghana’s mineral resources.
During his campaign in the Akwatia constituency, Dr. Bawumia voiced his concerns about the current practices in mineral exploration.
He criticized the common ‘trial and error’ approach used by companies with prospecting licenses, noting that it frequently results in considerable environmental damage.
“To prevent the trial-and-error process of exploring minerals, which destroys the environment, we intend to resource the Geological Survey Department with at least GH¢10 million every year, to accurately locate the minerals,” citinewsroom.com quoted Dr. Bawumia.
He highlighted that the Geological Survey Authority has pinpointed exact sites of mineral deposits, which will facilitate mining operations and minimize environmental harm.
Expanding on this, Dr. Bawumia presented plans to launch a community mining initiative backed by a shared user facility, allowing local communities to participate in eco-friendly mining practices.
“We will initiate the community mining scheme and provide them with a common user facility for them to mine,” he said.
Alongside financial support and community engagement, Dr. Bawumia emphasized the need to include traditional leaders in the mineral licensing process. He contends that giving chiefs an equity share in small-scale mining ventures will promote a fairer distribution of mining benefits and better protect the nation’s interests.
“In the mining licensing process, we have to involve the chiefs; otherwise, it will not end well for the country. We also have to provide for an equity stake of the chiefs in the concessions,” Dr. Bawumia added.