Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Mr. Samuel A. Jinapor has given assurance that the President Akufo-Addo government will protect the integrity of Atewa Forest and exploit it for the ultimate benefit of Ghanaians.
“Government and GIADEC (Ghana Integrated Aluminum Development Corporation) continue to be fully committed to the preservation of the Atewa Forest and ensure that the exploitation of the bauxite in Atewa is in the ultimate interest of the Ghanaian people and is in the public interest. They are also working to ensure that the integrity of the forest is preserved”
Speaking to Aljazeera Media Network last Sunday, the Minister said GIADEC has Atewa Forest as one of the key projects being relentlessly pursued by government together with Awaso, Nyinahin – Mpasaaso, Kyebi and Valco projects, all in efforts to build an integrated iron and Aluminium industry.
Mr. Jinapor added that “goverment is therefore putting in place measures to ensure that particularly, bauxite and iron ore are built with the full value chain retained here in Ghana and we have created bureaucracies here like the GIADEC and GISDEC which are going to be responsible for building the full value chain of this bauxite and iron ore”
The Lands and Natural Resource Minister who is also the MP for Damongo explained that the thin line between mining the bauxite and preserving the environment is striking a delicate balance to ensure that the country’s industrialisation drive continues because these minerals he opined are the starting point for industrial development and prosperity of the country.
“We cannot progress and unleash the prosperity our people so dearly need without industrialisation and we cannot industrialise without building these integrated bauxite and iron industries”, he added.
Mr. Jinapor maintained that government is also ensuring that the bauxite in Atewa are exploited in a manner that does not unreasonably compromise the ecological integrity of the forest.
Touching on the production of Gold, the Minister indicated that government intends to keep Ghana’s position as the leading producer of Gold and the 6th on the world scale and even do more.
He added that the President of the Republic has plans of changing the equation of Ghana being a major resource rich country, which only produces raw material to a country that builds and retains the full value chain of its Minerals.
“Government is therefore making efforts to ensure that refineries in Ghana acquire the London Bullion Market Association Certification (LBMA) and become fit for purpose to participate in the global refinery industry”, Mr. Jinapor concluded.
