TWN holds forum on Mining reforms and contracts renegotiation

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Accra, March 14, GNA -Participants at a public forum on mining reforms and contracts renegotiation, have called for a strong government action to ensure that more benefits of mining accrued to the country.

They argued that the country has less to show for the so many years of mining and that government with stakeholders should do more to increase the benefits to the communities.  

The forum brought together senior policy officials, civil society leaders, labour union leaders, researchers and community leaders to discuss ongoing mineral policy reforms and contracts renegotiation with the view of providing the necessary public support to these initiatives.

The forum, which was on the theme: 'Enhancing public knowledge and engagement in support of mining reforms and contracts renegotiation,' increase public knowledge and engagement on ongoing mining sector reforms in the region and across the continent and their implications for Ghana.

It was also to discuss recent initiatives by the government in the mining sector, giving particular attention to renegotiation of mining contracts.

Mr Simon Atebiya, a Technical Director of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, who gave an overview of the Mining Reform and Re-negotiating Committee, said it was looking up issues such as the review and re-negotiation of stability agreements, fiscal regimes and government's participating interests.

He said while the review committee would look at the national interest in the mining sector,  it would do so taking into consideration the investors interest and return on investments and predictability of mining and fiscal regimes.

Mr Abdulai Daramani, Programme Manager Environment, Third World Network (TWN), welcomed the review of the mining contracts and said a critical look should be taken at the long period covered by some of those contracts.

There must be also a look at capital allowances for the mining companies.

Mr Augustine Niber, Executive Director of the Centre for Public Interest Law said the government's agreement with Newmont gave generous tax allowances and concessions to the mining firm.

Professor Akilagpa Sawyerr, Chairman of Government Negotiating Committee said the review of the mining contracts was been done in line with the African mining vision and called for a critical look at the country's political economy to avoid conflicting situations that limited the space for negotiations.

Mr Prince Ankrah, General Secretary of the Ghana Mineworkers Union, said the mining companies had for far too long short-changed the country and the communities they operate in.

He called for a relevant market premium for Ghanaian professionals in the mining sector and said the Union would work to reverse the injustice being meted out to them.

Mr Tetteh Hormeku, a member of the Economic Justice Network, said Ghanaians must hold government accountable for the coherence of legislations to avoid conflicting situations in which government's bilateral and multilateral deals prevented it from taking some remedial actions.

Mr Yao Graham, Co-ordinator of TWN-Africa, said the forum was a welcoming one as it would provide information on a sector that is of immense importance to the country.

GNA