MAIDEN MINING FOR DEVELOPMENT FORUM HELD IN ACCRA

Accra, 22nd May, 2012: In line with its vision to become a respected, effective and unified voice for the mining industry in Ghana, the Ghana Chamber of Mines, the main organized body for Ghana's mineral sector, has unveiled a new initiative to facilitate this laudable vision. The maiden Mining for Development Forum was launched on Thursday, 17th May, 2012 at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra.

This event, which was to mark the first of a bi-quarterly forum series to open up the mining sector to the general public, was under the theme, “Mining for development: The role of stakeholders”. The forum which is to be launched by Honourable Mike Hammah, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources saw panelists drawn from the Chamber of Mines, Minerals Commission and the Third World Network.

Speaking about the aims and targets for the programme, Mr. Ahmed Nantogmah, the Director of Communications at the Ghana Chamber of Mines reemphasized the mining sector's versatile position in Ghana's economy. “Indubitably the mining sector has contributed immensely to the growth of Ghana's economy. The sector has also contributed to the development and expansion of the telecom, transport electricity, ICT and logistics sectors among others. However, most of our activities are not known to the public. We saw the need to open up to the public, so they appreciate their role in our operations and vice versa. This forum is to facilitate this healthy dialogue so we can share ideas and incorporate the ideas of stakeholders into our general policy and direction as to how mining can become a catalyst to national development. This way, we would be of better social relevance.”

The Mining for Development Forum is meant to be a platform where the media, the general public as well as stakeholders from various fields get the opportunity to interact with thought leaders in the mining sector. This would also provide the opportunity for investors to gain insights into Ghana's mining sector.

Being the first of its kind in the country, this maiden mining forum addressed several issues including how other sectors of the economy benefit from the mining industry, environmental best practices in the mining sector, small scale mining, human capacity in Ghana's mining industry as well as other relevant issues.

Having represented the mining industry's interests since 1928, the Ghana Chamber of Mines is the main minerals industry association in Ghana. The Chamber represents the collective interests of companies involved in mineral exploration, production and processing in Ghana. Its activities are entirely funded by its member companies, which produce over 90 per cent of the Ghana's mineral output.