Government of Ghana as a matter of urgency must invest huge capital and human resources into mining exploration and concession management to prevent the foreign expertise to discourage capital flight at the expense of the technology and knowledge they offer in mining and exploration in the country.
Practically looking at the act governing mining act of the country the company have done well in its offer, but then the country can gain more if due diligence is taken in all the transaction.
Richard Ellimah of the Natural Resource Governance Analyst, Centre for Social Impact Studies (CeSIS) said this on Adekyee Mu Nsem morning show on Ahotor 92.3 FM hosted by Nana Dogbey in Accra.
He is of the view that the government agency responsible for conducting geological surveys, mapping, and providing geoscientific information to both the public and private sectors, must be resource to help the country gain in the near future.
He stressed that this would prevent situations where foreign companies impose their conditions on the country simply because they offer similar services.
Going forward, the agreement in its current form will short-changed the country, depriving it of the full benefits lithium especially now that the globe is gearing towards green energy.
Let’s resource them so that they can do the mapping of the mineral data for us so that we don’t have to rely on a foreign company coming in and saying because I brought in my own capital, you have to accept these terms.”
He further called for a paradigm shift in the formulation of policies in the extractive sector, adding, there should be a comprehensive policy which will ensure Ghana benefits the most from its natural resources.
It’s about all our resources, so that any agreement which will be signed and ratified henceforth must at least have a particular framework which is a far departure from the colonial structure.
AYM Kukah. E:mail:kukahaleaxnder7@gmail.com
