The Minerals Commission (MinCom) will develop a comprehensive framework aimed at skills development for the effective exploitation of mining resources that benefits the Nation, a Deputy Director In-charge of Promotion and Development, Martin Kwaku Ayisi has disclosed.
According to him engagement sections will be help with all relevant institutions including Civil Society Organisations, the minerals industry players and the academia in order to craft a formidable framework that guarantees the needed skills training for the sector.
Speaking at a joint training organised by MinCom in collaboration with the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) for CSOs and the media on the newly passed Minerals and Mining Local Content and Local Participation Regulations 2020, Legislative Instrument (LI) 2431, Mr Ayisi also assured of the Commission’s resolve to collaborate with the Chamber of Mines to ensure that mining companies operating in the country strictly adhere to operational guidelines and the requirements of LI 2431.
Some new features of the new LI 2431 which came into force December 2020 include emphasis on the employment of Ghanaians as a key requirement, non-employment of expatriates to roles which are not technical and non-engineering.
Others include the obligation on foreign firms not hire only locals for positions consisting General Manager and below, use of local engineering and insurance services, procurement of financial services from local banks with a minimum of 20% ownership by Ghanaians and accounting and legal services.
The Ghana Policy Advocacy Officer, Nasir Alfa Mohammed welcome the proposal which he believe will enhance local capacity in the Minerals sub-sector of the economy.
He noted some improvements in the new LI including enhanced gender mainstreaming, Mr Nasir Alfa urged the need for increased collaboration between media and CSOs for effective advocacy to ensure that citizens derive maximum benefit from local content provisions for resources that are exploited.
