The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, has inaugurated an ultra-modern office complex for the Minerals Commission, at Akim Oda, in the Birim Central Municipality of the Eastern region, as part of efforts to enhance the Commission’s regulatory and monitoring capabilities in the area.
The new facility, is said to be part of a broader government initiative to decentralize the operations of the Minerals Commission and bring its services closer to mining operators and communities.
The office, one of the first established in the country, according to the Minister of Lands, Samuel Abu Jinapor, is a testament to the Akufo-Addo led-administration’s commitment to revitalizing the mining sector through sustainable and environmentally sound practices.
The Minister, who was speaking at the inauguration of the facility in a brief but colorful ceremony, highlighted that the office would enable effective supervision of mining activities in Akim Oda and its surrounding areas.
Under the Akufo-Addo administration, he said, the operations of the Minerals Commission have expanded significantly, with the construction of four new district offices, 12 satellite offices, and two observatory offices.
The Akim Oda office will oversee small-scale mining operations in several areas with a long history of community mining, including Akwatia, Anyinam, Osinor, Asamantafo, Kade, and Adankrono.
The Minister also announced the imminent launch of the Community Mining Scheme in Akim Oda, stating that the construction of the office has paved the way for the creation of a CMS concession.
He acknowledged the Member of Parliament for Akim Oda, Alexandre Kwasi Aquah, for his assertive role in realizing the offices and CMS and promised that the concession would be announced soon.
The Chairperson of the Minerals Commission Board, Barbara Oteng Gyasi, also speaking at the ceremony stated, “We were tasked by the president to regularize mining to benefit every Ghanaian and protect our environment.
“To achieve that, we had to expand our offices across the country to be closer to the mining companies, especially the small-scale mining companies, to effectively monitor their activities.”
The two-story office, which began construction in 2022, is estimated to cost GH¢5 million. The office complex features four washrooms, two large storerooms, a kitchen on each floor, a conference hall, and other amenities that will improve the welfare of the staff and enable them to discharge their duties with utmost perfection.
