PDAC 2024: Ghana’s Minister for Lands Joins Colleagues Ministers @ International Mines Ministers Summit

Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, Ghana’s Minister for Lands and Natural Resources continues to partake in major summits and meetings at the ongoing Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) Convention marketing Ghana’s sustainable and vibrant mining industry and by doing so wooing investors into the country by spiking their interest and exhorting their minds to the plethora of reasons that make Ghana a perfect destination for mining.

On Monday, 04 March 2024, Hon. Jinapor joined twenty two (22)other Ministers responsible for Mines and Natural Resources, captains of the mining industry, Anglo American Associations, Euro Asia Resources Group and civil society organisations to explore and exchange knowledge on the future of the industry in the wake of the global warming and the shift towards green minerals.

The event dubbed International Mines Ministers Summit was structured in way that saw the ministers and other stakeholders being empanelled to address various sub-themes that falls under the main theme which is “Striking a Balance for Success: Responsible Mining and the Energy Transition.”

In his contributions to Session One of the Summit which was themed “Sharing a Path to Success: Building a framework for collaboration”, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor espoused the far-reaching policy directives being implemented by the Ghana government, the strong and resilient partnership between the government and the mining companies through the Ghana Chamber of Mines and the shift from ‘digging and shipping’ and value addition.

He laid specific emphasis on the importance of strong collaborations between government and large scale mining companies serving as the fundamental and solid rock on which the successes for a mutually beneficial and serene mining industry is done.

He also underscored the commitment of the government to responsible and sustainable mining practises, not just at the mineral discovery stage but throughout the entire value chain, describing its ‘non-negotiable.

He disclosed that the paradigm shift in Ghana’s mining policy from mere production of minerals to value addition is perfectly encapsulated by the recent Lithium agreement with Atlantic Lithium in which government ensured the establishment of refinery plant in Ghana and the opportunity of Ghanaian ownership through listing on the Ghana Stock Exchange.

While bemoaning the relatively insignificant benefits African countries derive from their mineral resources, Hon. Jinapor advocated for an “affirmative action” that will enable host countries of these minerals to benefit more equitably from their natural resource endowment”. This policy, he says, must deliberate, conscious and have the interest of the host-countries at the top.

He re-echoed his long-held view that African countries who take the initiative to contribute to the fight against climate change must be rewarded and incentivised to pursue that path.

While acknowledging Energy Transition as a noble and magnanimous goal, the Minister underlined the imperativeness of producers of the raw materials for clean energy benefiting significantly from the Minerals.

Again, the Lands Minister joined his counterparts on the sidelines of the Summit to close the Toronto Stock Exchange amidst thunderous applause from global participants.

Ministers at the highly important summit were drawn from Canada, Germany, Peru, Finland among others.