Accra, – Daakye Mining Enterprise, a mining company located at Wassa Gyapa in the Amenfi East District of the Western Region has been adjudged the Overall Best Small-Scale Mining company at the maiden edition of the Responsible Small-Scale Mining Awards.
Mr Kwabena Obeng, the owner of Daakye Mining Enterprise, was also adjudged the Overall Best Small-Scale Miner.
Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the awards ceremony held at the Alisa Hotel in Accra, on Wednesday night, presented the award to the Overall Best Small-Scale Mining company.
The company was rewarded for managing a mining site with a valid Mining and Environmental licence and digging permit.
Additionally, it was deemed to have a well coordinated working system, with good record keeping, an emergency assemble point, first aid kits, and other relevant requirements, which made it outstanding and worthy of recognition.
For its award, Daakye Mining Enterprise took home a plaque, mining equipment known as a gold catcher worth $125,000, and a sponsored trip to a mining conference.
Mr Bright Kwabena Obeng of Beloved Mining Enterprise, Assin Fosu Mining District was adjudged the Most Promising Small-Scale Miner while Mr Clement Adzormahe received the Best District Inspection Officer Award.
Omanhene Kwabena Asante, a Presenter at Adom TV, received a Special Award for his consistent efforts in sensitising the public on proper mining practices. He received a cash price of GHc10,000 and a citation.
The maiden Small-Scale Mining Awards was held on the theme: “Promoting Responsible and Sustainable Small-Scale Mining” as part of efforts to encourage and promote responsible small-scale mining in the country.
The award scheme was instituted by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources with support from other sector agencies including the Minerals Commission, the Minerals Development Fund, the Precious Minerals Marketing Company, and Royal Gold Refinery Limited.
The event attracted high profile personalities such as the Chief of Staff Madam Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, and industry players.
The awards scheme is going to be an annual event that aims at acknowledging and rewarding small-scale miners for complying with regulatory and operational requirements as well as adhering to health, safety, and environmental operating standards of mining.
In an address, Vice-President Bawumia said, the small-scale mining sector was critical to the economy as it contributed about 35 percent of the country’s total gold production and assured of government’s support to help it thrive.
He cited the recent reduction of the Withholding tax from three percent to 1.5 percent and Bank of Ghana’s gold purchase programme from small-scale miners as part of measures to boost the mining sub sector.
The Vice President said the various government reforms and interventions in the small-scale mining sub sector was intended to streamline and regularise it to curb the bad environmental practices.
He said re-engineering the governance structure of the sector would help sanitise the small-scale mining industry, which was fraught with land-use conflicts, poor environmental practices among others.
Dr Bawumia lauded the Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners for their co-operation in ensuring the smooth implementation of the various reforms in the small-scale mining sector.
Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor, the Sector Minister, in his welcome remarks, said the Akufo-Addo’s government was not against mining but to promote responsible and sustainable mining practices.
He outlined various programmes and activities the Ministry had lined up for implementation in the coming years to safeguard the environment and promote responsible mining regime.
Source: Ghana News Agency
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