By Erica Apeatua Addo Tarkwa (W/R), Nov14, GNA- Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, has m...
By Erica Apeatua Addo
Tarkwa (W/R), Nov14, GNA- Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, has mentioned that local production should be given preference within Ghana's mining sector.
He mentioned that in mining, it was essential to examine the entire supply chain and determine how Ghanaians could generate additional value from the sector.
Speaking to mining companies, vendors, government officials, financial organizations, and educational institutions during the launch of the 2025 Mining Industry Marketing Expo (MIME) held at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) in Tarkwa, Dr. Ashigbey stated that the sector allocated $3.5 billion last year for local goods and services, such as fuel and power.
He stated, "A significant portion of this $3.5 billion we refer to as local content, there wasn't a company or individual in Ghana who placed the order and imported it from another place. For the Chamber, this is where we think there needs to be a change in approach."
"We are of the opinion that prior to extracting the final bit of gold, a ton of manganese, bauxite, or diamond from the earth, we should transition towards manufacturing sectors that generate higher value. This way, the $3.5 billion spent by the mining industry—which represents roughly 49 per cent of the value that even mine owners do not receive—can be captured by Ghanaians, allowing us to move beyond merely acting as intermediaries," he added.
He pointed out that Ghana would only gain the additional benefit from the $3.5 billion if they pursued the route that some of their members were following, such as the platinum sponsor of this year's event, Star Steels Limited, which has begun manufacturing grinding mills that meet international market standards in Ghana.
The chief executive stated, "If our mining companies purchase it, the jobs and revenues will remain in Ghana, and they will pay taxes accordingly. We have Qualiplast Limited and Mark Partners also manufacturing parts within Ghana. This is the outcome we aim to promote."
Dr. Ashigbey stated that the chamber was not only encouraging its members to take action but had also backed their statements with tangible efforts and financial support, noting, "For example, at UMaT, we are collaborating with several professors, led by Professor Buah, to examine the topic of activated carbon."
He stated that there was an annual demand of $40 million for activated carbon, with most of it being imported, so they were collaborating with UMaT to develop a local alternative.
"Activated carbon," he explained, is derived from palm kernel shells, coconut shells, and even bamboo. What is occurring is that Professor Buah and his team have developed a reactor to manufacture it. The product has been tested by some of our mines, and it has been found to meet the quality standards.
He proposed that using activated carbon could help restore areas harmed by unauthorized mining by cultivating oil palm and coconut trees to obtain the kernels and shells required.
Furthermore, he mentioned that it was not solely about products, but services were also significant, emphasizing that they could concentrate on providing training and adapting certain services they needed.
Our objective is to offer services not only within our local area, but also across various mining regions. The aim of the Mining Expo was to bring together member mining companies and vendors to advance their interests.
Therefore, by 2028, when the Chamber celebrates its 100th anniversary, the majority of their regional content would be produced within this nation.
Madam Victoria Awuni, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission responsible for Policy Planning, Mineral Titles, and Local Content, emphasized that attaining substantial local content necessitates cooperation, alliances, and effective joint ventures, adding that the corporation has contributed to creating an environment where local businesses thrive.
She recommended that they incorporate local content into their own organizational culture, rather than merely complying with Minerals Commission requirements.
Madam Awuni stated that they needed to collaborate to keep local content central to mining, as the prosperity of local communities would lead to the growth of the entire industry and the country.
Mr. Udbhav Bhuwalka, part of the leadership at Star Steels Limited, mentioned earlier this year that they launched their Forged Grinding Media plant to establish themselves as a complete local supplier for the Ghanaian mining sector.
He mentioned that through this initiative, they generated 700 direct and 500 indirect jobs in the areas of manufacturing, logistics, and technical services.
Mr. Udbhav mentioned that, in addition to providing rigorous training for local engineers, metallurgists, and technicians to meet international industry standards, the company had collaborated with Ghanaian suppliers for raw materials, packaging, and transportation, thus supporting local Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs).
Mr. Ebenezer Cobbinah, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Tarkwa Nsuaem, commended the mining sector for its long-standing support and successful partnership with the assembly in areas such as education, health, security, road development, and cleanliness.
He mentioned that this had fostered a sense of pride and met particular requirements in the communities where these initiatives were implemented.
Professor Mrs. Grace Ofori-Sarpong Akuffo, Pro Vice Chancellor of UMaT, who led the event, stated that they were honored to host the conference, highlighting the Chamber’s significant support.
She mentioned that they were providing their students with the necessary skills to adapt to the industry, as new technologies were developing, and the processing methods were being adjusted due to the type of ores they were handling. Therefore, being closer to the industry would enhance the way they educated their students.
The focus of the two-day gathering was "Local Content at the Core of Mining," featuring displays, professional connections, and panel talks about advancements and local involvement.
GNA
Edited by Justina Paaga/George-Ramsey Benamba
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