Upper East Regional Minister, Hon. Akamugri Donatus Atanga, has called for the establishment of a gold refinery in the region to ensure that more value is retained locally from its mineral wealth and accelerate industrial development.
Hon. Akamugri said the Upper East had significant mineral deposits across several districts, making the region well positioned to become a major mining and industrial hub if appropriate value-addition facilities were established.
“If we mine the gold here and refine it here, it will make the region the hub of industrialisation in the country,” he said.
The Minister made the call during an engagement with the Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC), a civil society organisation that has expressed interest in deepening its collaboration with the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council (RCC).
Hon. Akamugri said up to 11 districts in the region had mineral deposits, but the benefits accruing to mining communities remained limited.
He argued that a portion of the revenue generated from the mining sector should be ring-fenced for the development of communities where the resources were extracted.
According to him, although the mining sector generates billions of cedis for the national economy, mining communities do not receive sufficient benefits from the wealth produced from their natural resources.
He therefore tasked ISODEC, which has extensive experience in mining advocacy and policy, to examine Ghana’s existing mineral laws, identify gaps and propose regulations that would ensure mining communities derive greater benefits from the sector.
Hon. Akamugri said the process should involve Members of Parliament from the region, chiefs, political actors and other relevant stakeholders.
He said the first engagement should be with the region’s MPs to secure their support and enable them to effectively carry the concerns of the region to the national level.
The Minister also called for stronger community engagement on mining to prevent conflicts and misinformation that could undermine mining activities.
He said the Upper East’s mineral wealth, combined with its agricultural potential, could provide the foundation for transforming the region into an economic hub.
Hon. Akamugri further urged ISODEC to explore areas of collaboration with the RCC under the Prosperity through Enterprise, Agriculture, Resilience and Livelihoods (PEARL) framework.
He said PEARL’s focus on developing local economic opportunities aligned with ISODEC’s interest in promoting alternative economic models.
Hon. Akamugri expressed satisfaction with ISODEC’s participation in the PEARL programme and welcomed the organisation’s plans to establish a stronger presence in northern Ghana.
He said the RCC was ready to work with ISODEC to develop practical interventions that could unlock the region’s economic potential.
In response, ISODEC Executive Director, Sam Danse, pledged the organisation’s support for PEARL and said it would serve as a strong voice for the programme in Accra.
He said ISODEC, which has operated since 1987, would continue using research, advocacy and policy engagement to promote development and ensure that communities benefited more from the country’s natural resources.
Source:Mybrytfmonline.com
