The third edition of the much-anticipated Ghana Gold Expo Mining Week is slated for the first week in April 2022 on the theme ‘The potential of mining for sustainable development’ in Takoradi.
As is well projected, the core of the Ghana Gold Expo Mining Week event is to pursue and successfully entrench ‘Potentials of Minerals and Sustainability’ of the mining processing value chain – from environmental extraction to eradicate harmful chemicals, to best practises, formalisation, incentives for explorations, trade-driven channels all the way to digital transactions and Gold Reserve Management.
The Ghana Gold Expo has been leading the way in the Africa context of driving new avant-garde thinking and actions across the Gold and Minerals industry holistically.
Steven Blessing Ackah, Executive Director of ViewTag Ghana Gold Expo, told B&FT in an interview that: “TheGoverning Council of Ghana Gold Expo, organizer of the Ghana Gold Mining Week 2022, has issued a press statementindicating preparation toward the upcoming 2022 Mining Week on the 1st and 2nd April 2020 at the Best Western Atlantic Hotel in Takoradi, Ghana”.
The Governing Committee, led by Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah – Western Regional Minister; Abu Jinapor, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources and his deputy Meriku Duker; Martin Ayisi, CEO of Minerals Commission; Nana Tetrete, Chairman of the Forestry Commission; and the Executive Director of Ghana Gold Expo, Steven Blessing Ackah, have said: “The Expo is on the state of the Mining Industry in Africa, and how Ghana can increase its potential for sustainable development as government provides enabling policies, incentives for mining explorations, sustainable technologies and environmental regulations”.
He explained that activities, slated for the event include a mining policy forum and responsible sourcing training conference, mining tour and aircraft surveillance, conservation mine and reclamation awards, as well as mining exhibitions and a golf tournament.
During the mining policy forum segment, he said, key experts will discuss, deliberate and showcase the cases of success on mine tailings and environmental impact, mining investment and exploration strategies, reclamation and conservation road maps, and sustainable development programmes in the mining communities.
The mining week, he said, is convened by Viewtag-Ghana as a policy advocacy body that focuses mainly on Promoting Zero Mercury and Cyanide (Responsible Gold Production) in mining. It provides a platform to advise against application of the deadly chemicals in mining by the Minamata Convention on Mercury/Cyanide and other chemicals.
Mr. Ackah stated that as part of the Mining Week, the team will develop a report that includes insights and recommendations from diverse stakeholders, both local and international, which focus on the theme of the year.
“We believe that the platform will attract industry representatives as we connect leaders and Investment to the mining sector,” he added.
About the 2021 Ghana Gold Expo Mining Week Report
The Bank of Ghana (BoG) as represented by Mr. Stephen Opata, the Director of Financial Markets. presented on the central bank as a catalyst for the formalisation of Artisanal Small-scale Gold Mining (ASGM). The report also analysedstrategic steps and measures to be put in place to eradicate the use of mercury among Artisanal Small Scale Gold Miners(ASGMs), due diligence procedures, monitoring and transparency in ASGM activities, and water treatment strategies that Water Commission, Environmental Protection Agency and Minerals Commission can jointly adopt to clean our water-bodies.
The report will highlight presentations by the World Gold Council, the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Minerals Commission on Mining Exploration, LBMA and other speakers. It also covers a presentation of a Gold Gift to the Vice President, Dr. Mahamud Bawumia. The event has support from the government of Ghana through the Western Regional Coordinating Council, and partnerships and support of international agencies such Aurum Monaco, Forbes Monaco, Gold Fields Ghana, Bank of Ghana, Minerals Commission, Veola Ghana, Gold Coast Refinery, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and other stakeholders in the mining industry.
It is expected that the Ghana Gold Expo Mining Week will attract government, ministries and agencies, mining companies both small and large, mining support services, Embassies and Diplomatic Missions in Ghana; global financial institutions; representatives from the LBMA, World Gold Council, Forbes and other notable brands.
The event will receive the Western Regional Minister as the host, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources as Guest Speaker, and many other speakers and diplomatic envoys.
President Nana Akufo-Addo is expected to deliver the keynote address.
Finally, the Mining Week will cover the Diplomatic Mining Field trip – with foreign envoys and participants visiting some mining sites in the Western Region through the unflinching support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.
