Ghana must retain more value from mineral resources - Davis Opoku Ansah
Davis Opoku Ansah, Member of Parliament, has supported calls opposing the renewal of Gold Fields' lease for the Tarkwa Mine, insisting that Ghana must adopt a new approach to managing its mineral resources to secure greater economic benefit for the country. Speaking in an interview on Channel One TV on Wednesday, May 13, the MP said, "We need to appreciate that Ghana, as a country, in the last 40 years, has been to the IMF 17 times. What this tells us is that Ghana is rich in resources but very poor in our value retention."
Mr. Opoku Ansah argued that successive governments have failed to maximise the value derived from the nation's mineral wealth. He questioned why mining communities continue to face developmental challenges while multinational mining firms record significant profits from operations in Ghana. He cited communities such as Tarkwa and Obuasi, which he said still struggle with poor infrastructure and limited social amenities despite years of mining activity.
Mr. Opoku Ansah maintained that the debate surrounding the Tarkwa Mine lease renewal presents an opportunity for Ghana to reassess its mining policies and ensure that the country retains a greater share of the wealth generated from its extractive sector. He stressed the need for Ghana to use the ongoing discussions around mining lease renewals to secure stronger national benefits from its natural resources, stating, "We cannot keep on exporting gold."
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Davis Opoku Ansah, MP, has called for Ghana to retain more value from its mineral resources, particularly gold. He argues that the country's economic structure has long-standing weaknesses - despite its abundant natural resources.
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