Ghana and Australia in Partnership to Enhance Minerals Sector Administration in Ghana
Accra, 18 June 2015- Ghana and Australia signed an Exchange of Letters today, to signal the beginning of a two-year partnership to enhance the management of minerals rights in Ghana.
The two-year technical assistance project, funded by the Australian Government, is expected to improve the effectiveness, accountability and compliance of the management of mining licenses and royalties in Ghana.
Ghana’s Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, the Honourable Nii Osah Mills, and Australia’s High Commissioner to Ghana, H.E. Ms Joanna Adamson, signed the Exchange of Letters on behalf of their respective governments.
Honourable Nii Osah Mills welcomed the Australian Government’s support to the mining sector in Ghana, noted, “This project will help to increase efficiency and effectiveness in the issuing, tracking and general administration of mineral licences. This is a high priority for the Ministry. This assistance should also help address some of the current challenges with the management of small-scale mining licences in Ghana”.
The High Commissioner H.E. Ms Adamson noted, “Ghana and Australia share many years of experience in the mining sector so it is logical that we work together. We hope that this technical support from Australia will help Ghana enhance the management of its mining sector to achieve sustainable growth and wider socio-economic benefits for the Ghanaian people”.
The technical assistance provided by Australia will support the Minerals Commission of Ghana to develop and utilize a computerized administration system for processing, managing and monitoring mineral rights and licenses in Ghana. The technical assistance will be delivered by the Revenue Development Foundation (RDF), an experienced a non-profit Organisation with a track record in raising revenue for governments of developing countries.
The project ultimately aims to help increase investors’ confidence in the mining sector and improve mining investment to Ghana.
For more information, please contact: the Senior PRO of the Minerals Commission, Mr Isaac Abraham, email: [email protected]; tel: +233 204003700; or the Minerals Commission, +233(0302)771318/773053 email: [email protected]; or Mr Ebenezer Aryee, Senior Program Manager, Australian High Commission; [email protected];
+233 0544 341 781.