Community mining schemes to create 12,000 jobs ; in Tarkwa, Evalue-Gwira municipalities

President Akufo-Addo has launched three Community Mining Schemes at Egila/Gwira, Akango/Duale and Aboso, in the Evalue-Gwira and TarkwaNsuaem constituencies, respectively.

The Schemes are expected to create some two thousand (2,000) jobs at Egila/Gwira and Akamgo/Duale, with some ten thousand (10,000) jobs set to be created at Aboso.

Launching the schemes on Tuesday, 18^th August 2020, day one of his 2-day working visit of the Western Region, President Akufo-Addo explained that the Community Mining Scheme is an initiative meant to encourage responsible small-scale mining, in line with the Minerals and Mining Law, 2015, Act 703, in communities across the country.

Recounting the menace wreaked by galamsey across the country, prior to his assumption of office in January 2017, the President stated that the phenomenon led to the pollution of waters, the degradation of lands, the non-reclamation of degraded land and the use of dangerous chemicals, such as mercury and cyanide, on the environment.

“I was of the view, a view shared happily by the majority of Ghanaians, that if we allowed it to continue, we would be jeopardising both our present and our future. Our responsibility, to this end, was clear,” he said, adding that “one of the measures instituted by Government to deal with the menace of galamsey is the Community Mining Scheme.”

President Akufo-Addo continued, “We believe that participation by Ghanaians and or the host communities in mining will set us, as a nation, on the journey to boost the rural economy, help rural infrastructure development, and improve livelihoods, through shared wealth.

“More importantly, it will enable Ghanaians develop the capacity to take over, eventually, the operations of the minerals sector.”

Aboso 1D1F

In addition to launching the Community Mining Scheme at Aboso, President Akufo-Addo cut the sod for the construction of the Aboso Tailings Project, a 1-District-1-Factory initiative, which is being established to treat and process tailings waste to produce gold doré.

Yellowtail Ltd, the enterprise promoting this initiative, will construct a state-of-the-art gold processing facility within six (6) months, with a total capital outlay of some twelve million dollars ($12 million), to ensure steady production of gold doré.

“The benefits of this project are both environmental and economic. The project will introduce technology and safe working practices to small to medium scale underground sites, and rehabilitate contaminated sites for agricultural purposes and developments”, the President added.

On an annual basis, for five (5) years, the Project will contribute approximately US$1.35 million as royalties and fifty-four thousand dollars (US$54,000) as small-scale mining sustainable levy to Government.

Cumulatively, a total amount, in excess of Eight million Seven hundred thousand dollars (US$8.7 million) will be contributed as Corporate Tax (CIT) over the five (5) year period.

“I am counting on you, Nananom, to contribute to the success of these projects for the development and transformation of Abosso.

“Government’s determination to bring progress and prosperity to every part of our country is very much on course,” President Akufo-Addo added.

President Akufo-Addo in another development says Ghanaians are witnessing, at first hand, the declaration by Government of 2020 as “The Year of Roads”, as road projects in every Region of the country are ongoing.

Speaking at the sod-cutting ceremony for the construction of the Essiama-Nkroful-Telekubokazo road, in the Ellembelle constituency, President Akufo-Addo expressed delight that, “it is under my time as President that the road leading to Nkroful (hometown of Kwame Nkrumah) is about to be constructed.

Indeed, the Essiama-Nkroful-Telekubokazo road links to hometown of Kwame Nkrumah, as well as linking major cocoa growing areas in Anyinase North.

It will also provide the shortest route from Esiama through Telekubokazo to Aniben junction to Tarkwa and PresteaHuni Valley Municipal Area.

Reiterating the comment made by the Chief of Esiama, Nana Enuquagyan II, who described the President a “promise keeper”, the President added that, “I am someone who promises and delivers, and that is something I want Ghanaians to know, so they can trust me.”

He continued, “I told Ghanaians that this is the year of roads. Ghanaians can testify to this. We are not doing ‘green book’ propaganda roads, we are doing genuine roads on the ground for all to see. All my roads are ‘feelifeeli’ roads, not green book roads.”

The road was awarded for construction on 5th November 2019, with the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation being the funding agency.

It is a 6.50-kilometre stretch, which is being constructed by M/S Memphis Metropolitan Ltd, and is expected to be completed on 29th April 2021, at a cost of GH¢5,520,130.51.

Other roads being constructed in the enclave include the 20-kilometre Telekubokazo to Aiyinase Road, which is being fully funded by the Government of the Republic, acting through the Ghana Road Fund; the 30.2-kilometre Essiama to Telekubokazo Road, which, again is being fully funded by Government, through the Ghana Road Fund. Upgrading to bitumen surfacing of the GwiraAiyinase to GwiraWiawso feeder road and upgrading of the 3.20-kilometre Egyam Town Road are other road projects being done.

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