Minister commends Shaanxi for adhering to mining laws

The Upper East Regional Minister, Stephen Yakubu has commended Shaanxi Mining Ghana Limited for adhering to the mining laws of Ghana.

Shaanxi Mining Ghana Limited in 2008 entered the Gbane community in the Talensi District with the mandate of providing gold mine support services to Yenyeya and Pabortaaba mining groups – two licenses Ghanaian small-scale mining groups.

The operation of the company has been described as “worthy of emulation” and in conformity with Ghana’s mining laws. Mr Yakubu who made these remarks said he will continue to monitor the company’s operation to ensure it operates in line with all the mining laws of the country.

“If we emulate this kind of mining in the Region, I think it will be good for all of us. The main issue is to do the right thing and if they are doing the right things, then they can even have more concessions to employ more people.

"As a country, there are things that we are looking at, to abide by the law, do the right thing so that the country benefits.

"And looking at the environment and the way they are operating, so far, I think it is satisfactory and I will encourage them to make sure the laws of the country are followed.”

The Minister made these remarks when he led the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) to pay a familiarization visit to the Shaanxi Mining Ghana Limited in Gbane in the Talensi district.

Mr Yakubu entreated the management of the company to ensure that the safety of the workers is paramount in its operations, and urged the workers not to hesitate to report to his office anytime they feel their safety has been trampled.

The General Manager of Shaanxi Mining Ghana Limited, Li Jianguo stated that the company has put in measures to protect the environment and the workers.

He added that the company will continue to support the development of the Upper East Region and the country as a whole. Maxwell Wooma, Public Relations Officer to the company indicated that the company operates underground mining works in line with the mining regulations.

“We operate safely with inconsequential damage to the environment. There is no water body around our operation. The closest is the White Volta which is about 7 km away from our operational area here and since we are running an underground mine, there is no business having machinery or any processing going on in this particular river.”

With a workforce of 725, the PRO disclosed that 540 of its workers are from the Gbane and neighbouring communities in the region who are permanently employed by the company.

That notwithstanding, Mr Wooma mentioned areas such as the construction of education and health facilities, construction of bridges, rehabilitation of access roads, provision of potable drinking water, the provision of scholarship to brilliant but needy students as part of the company’s corporate social responsibility to the community.

James Adombire