ECOWAS Minerals Ministers Adopt Regional Mining Bill

General News on Friday, May 31, 2019

Source: Ghananewsagency.org

2019-05-31

Ministers responsible for mineral development in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Thursday adopted a draft law on regional mining to regulate minerals. mining activities in the sub-region.

The draft document adopted at the end of a two-day summit in Accra, subject to the approval of the ECOWAS Parliament, would regulate the issuance of permits, mining rights, licenses, defining institutional structures, local content regulations and environmental and social impact studies.

Ghana's Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Kwaku Asoma-Cheremeh, who chaired the closing ceremony, said the document could be used to protect the member states from exploitation by foreign investors.

He added that this would allow potential mining investors to understand that the sub-region was guided by common rules and regulations on mineral resources, which would help increase incomes, create jobs for young people and develop rich countries. in resources.

He cited South Africa as a clbadic example among the countries of Africa that had developed its infrastructure with mineral resources.

"This flight to the capital must stop and the Member States must help themselves and help the next generation," said Mr Asoma-Cheremeh.

The draft document will soon be presented to the ECOWAS Parliament and then forwarded to the Council of Ministers, including the Ministers of Finance and Foreign Affairs.