- Six of the world’s top ten mining companies currently operate in Ghana
- Ghana remains Africa’s leading producer of gold
- Prince Ngangabani, PS lead delegation received by Ghana Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah
BY THEMBA ZWANE
MBABANE – Government has dispatched a high-powered Eswatini delegation to the Republic of Ghana for a benchmarking exercise on gold mining, mineral resource governance and land administration as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s natural resources sector.
The delegation comprised officials from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy and was led by Nonhlanhla Dlamini, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Tinkhundla Administration and Development (MTAD), together with Prince Ngangabani, Chairperson of the Land Management Board (LMB) and outgoing Speaker of Parliament, Petros Mavimbela, alongside five senior government officials.
Upon receiving the delegation, Ghana’s Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, assured them of his Ministry’s full cooperation during the study and familiarisation tour of Ghana’s land administration system.
Regarding the delegation’s visit, Buah explained that Ghana’s Ministry focuses on three core areas: land, minerals and forestry. He noted ongoing reforms aimed at streamlining activities in the sector, backed by appropriate regulations, and said new Acts would be promulgated to strengthen mineral resource governance, land management and forestry administration.
In the mining sector, Buah underscored the progress made, revealing that six of the world’s top ten mining companies currently operate in Ghana.
He said that although Ghana remains Africa’s leading producer of gold, stakeholders and the Ministry are not complacent, but continue to pursue higher standards in production and industry management.
He further said government’s campaign encourages hardworking Ghanaian miners to improve productivity and performance in line with global standards.
Ultimately, he said government intends to decentralise the mining industry through the establishment of multiple offices nationwide and to promote greater local participation.
“Ghana was called the Gold Coast by colonial masters because of our gold; therefore, we must demonstrate that indeed we have gold through responsible and sustainable management of our resources,” he remarked.
Buah said the improved performance of the small-scale mining sector demonstrates Ghana’s progress in advancing the industry.
He described it as a privilege to receive the high-powered delegation from the Kingdom of Eswatini.
The Minister also expressed optimism that the possibility of African unity still exists despite challenges confronting the campaign.
He said that while the campaign to bring the continent together remains viable, Ghana, which led the emancipation of the continent, would play a crucial role and continue to serve as a home for all Africans and people of African descent.
On what must bind Africans together, he said: “We still believe in the day the United States of Africa will come.”
The Minister highlighted Ghana’s role in the fight against colonialism while acknowledging its continuing contribution to the campaign for continental unity.
The Eswatini delegation expressed keen interest in Ghana’s land administration system and received deeper insights into the country’s approaches to land management and ongoing reforms through the bilateral knowledge exchange and benchmarking exercise.
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