The leadership of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, led by Ing. Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, Chief Executive Officer has paid a courtesy call on the Ahafo Regional Minister as part of its regional stakeholder engagement and preparations toward the upcoming Mining for Development Forum in the region.
The visit forms part of the Chamber’s efforts to deepen collaboration with key stakeholders ahead of the forum, which will be held on the theme: “Beyond Royalties: How Mining Communities Can Build Local Industries Around the Mine.”
During the meeting, Ing. Ashigbey underscored the importance of the mining sector as a critical driver of development in the Ahafo Region and the country at large. The delegation noted that the Minister’s leadership is pivotal in ensuring that the region maximizes the benefits of its mineral resources.
He highlighted the need for inclusive participation in the sector, stressing that while efforts to empower women should be sustained, equal attention must also be given to supporting men to ensure balanced development outcomes.
The CEO further pointed to the significant local opportunities created by mining companies such as Newmont and called for stronger collaboration to ensure these opportunities translate into tangible socio-economic benefits for host communities.
“We need to see how we can work together to ensure that mining benefits the community. Beyond the issues of buying and selling, we want to explore how mining can be used as a tool for broader development,” Ing. Ashigbey noted.
In line with the forum’s theme, the Chamber emphasized the importance of backward integration within the mining value chain, advocating for the establishment of local factories and support industries to service mining operations. Such initiatives, they explained, would help diversify the regional economy and create sustainable livelihoods beyond the lifespan of mining.
The Chamber also appealed to the Regional Minister to engage central government on critical sector issues and assured her of their commitment to work closely with the Regional Coordinating Council to drive development. They stressed the importance of ensuring that alternative industries are developed to sustain the region after mining activities decline.
In her response, the Ahafo Regional Minister, Mrs. Charity Gardiner welcomed the delegation and commended Newmont for its contributions to the region. She acknowledged the cordial relationship between the company and local stakeholders but encouraged the firm to deepen its support.
The Minister outlined key development challenges facing the region, including poor road infrastructure and the need to strengthen healthcare delivery. She specifically called for support to complete the Agenda 111 hospital project to enable its upgrade into a fully functional regional hospital.
She further assured the Chamber of her full participation in the upcoming forum, reaffirming her commitment to partnering stakeholders to advance the region’s development agenda.
The meeting ended with a shared commitment to strengthen collaboration among the Chamber, government, and mining companies to ensure that mining serves as a catalyst for sustainable and inclusive development in the Ahafo Region.