The President, Nana Akufo-Addo, has described as disgraceful the distressing state of mining communities in the country.
According to him, after decades of mining in places like Obuasi, Tarkwa and Prestea, conditions there are not enough to match the amount of gold mined out of the communities.
Opening the West African Mines Conference in Ghana, the President said his government is in the process of functioning out the Mineral Development Fund Act to address these problems.
Some Prestea roads are anything but motorable
“Why is Obuasi not among the most beautiful city in Ghana or the world if it holds riches in gold mines. Why do Tarkwa and Prestea not look like the golden towns they are?
“Or why does Akwatia’s appearance not reflect anything about the diamonds that have been taken out of their soils all these years?” he quizzed.
He said his government is poised to work to change the distressed and disgraceful state of mining in the country.
President Akufo-Addo said even though the mining companies have over the years complimented the work of government in mining communities, a lot more can and ought to be done.
Prestea residents demonstrating over bad state of roads in the town
He believes a continuous intelligent and sustainable collaboration between the companies and government can transform the communities.
The Mineral Development Fund Act of 2016 Act 912 was compliment the corporate Social Investment Initiatives, Trust Funds and other developmental foundations initiated by the mining companies for their host communities.
There have been calls for the need for Ghana to enact a Mineral Revenue Management Act to deepen transparency and accountability.
It is also aimed at providing opportunities to residents in mining communities to apply minerals revenue to the most critical areas of their communities.
President Akufo-Addo said his government is working to ensure that the Act is fully operational to provide financial resources to transform mining communities.