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Bibiani’s Minerals Commission District Office Duly Opened
On Wednesday, September 18, 2024, an official ceremony was conducted to showcase the state-of-the-art office facility for the Minerals Commission located in Bibiani.
In his welcome address, the MCE for Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai, Hon Paul Andoh expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the President and all stakeholders who made the dream a reality. He also expressed his optimism that the edifice will serve the needed purpose for its establishment.
Madam Barbara Oteng Gyasi, Board Chairperson of the Minerals Commission reiterated that the state-of-the-art edifice will address the challenges confronting small-scale mining operators as well as facilitate the monitoring and compliance role of the commission. Touching on the negative impact of illegal mining, Madam Oteng Gyasi reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to combating the menace by encouraging legal and responsible mining to preserve the environment for the general good. She was hopeful that the expansion of the commission’s presence in the Region would promote access to their services for legal and responsible mining to preserve the environment for the general good. She emphasized the commission’s frantic effort to sanitize the small-scale mining sector. In addition to the above the Board Chairperson praised the sector Minister for rolling out several interventions aimed at sanitizing the sector.
Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi ll, the paramount chief of the Anhwiaso Traditional Council who doubles as the president of the National House of Chiefs could not hide his joy at the realization of a long-awaited dream which had materialized. He welcomed all the dignitaries to the function, especially the Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Mr. Martin Ayisi. He assured the miners that the office would reduce the stress of traveling to the National capital to transact business. Nana Gyebi, however, pleaded with the authorities to facilitate youth skills development by accepting national service postings from the various tertiary institutions, especially the UMaT Satellite Campus in Bibiani. Additionally, the stakeholders were entreated to take good care of the edifice by instituting a regular maintenance culture to prolong its lifespan. He made a categorical statement about his detest for illegal mining.
Hon Samuel Abu Gyinapor, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and the MP for Damongo noted that a similar project had been commissioned for Akim Oda, and the Bibiani office is second of its kind. He highlighted that the move forms part of the government’s efforts to equip the agencies responsible for regulating mining activities. In his address, it came to light that the office would serve Western North, Ahafo, Bono, Bono East, and parts of the Ashanti Region. “With three large-scale mining companies operating within Bibiani- -Anhwiaso-Bekwai municipality, it became necessary to secure a more conducive working space for the commission to effectively regulate mining operations in this area and to provide a full spectrum of mining-related services, not just for small scale miners but also large scale mining operations,” the Minister stated. He also revealed that there would be satellite offices at Nkawie and Juaboso to augment the activities of the commission. “Five regional offices are under construction, and several district offices are being renovated with the support of the World Bank,” the Minister revealed.
In furtherance to the above, the Minister outlined the significant transformational steps taken by the commission to effectively and efficiently manage the mining industry as the improvement in turn around time for license acquisition through the introduction of the Mining Cadastral Administration System, tracking of earthmoving equipment through a centralized control room, the provision of office equipment and vehicles, the recruitment of more mining inspectors, human resource capacity building and training among others.
On the recent surge in activities of illegal miners, the Minister informed the gathering that the President has set up an ad-hoc committee chaired by the Minister for National Security, Hon Albert Kan Dapaah. He emphasized that the committee’s meetings have started and a positive result will be acknowledged by the entire nation.
By: Osei Koranteng, NPP communications Officer, Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai Constituency.