Sunyani (B/A), Oct. 1, GNA - A mining and mineral expert has commended Parliament for reviewing and amending the Minerals and Mining Act 2006, (Act 2003). Dr. Isaac Kwasi Asomah, a retired Mining and Mineral Engineering Lecturer at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), made the commendation at a one-day public consultation on the review and amendment of the Minerals and Mining Act IN Sunyani. The forum was organised by the Ministry of Environment Science and Technology and facilitated by an inter-ministerial committee of the Ministry.

It was attended by about 40 stakeholders including farmers, traditional rulers, representatives from government institutions and district assemblies, as well as members of mining and environmental non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Dr. Asomah suggested that a policy on expatriate quota that allowed mining companies to employ expatriates should be reviewed in the interest of the nation.

He said that some graduates of mining engineering from KNUST and University of Mines and Technology had left for greener pastures abroad because there were no jobs for them in mining industry in the country. Dr Asamoah cited that many Ghanaian mining engineers could be found in South Africa, Botswana and Australia.

He said durbars on the Environmental Impact Assessment organised by the Environmental protection Agency for prospective mining companies and residents of operational areas should be sustained even when the companies had begun operations.

Dr Asamoah explained that it would enable mining firms to know the best way of mitigating the impact of their activities on the people. He said that it was during mining operations that people actually saw and experienced the real impact of the mining activities on them. The participants called for prohibition of mining in forest reserves because its negative effects on the socio-economic lives of the people far outweighed the benefits gained by the country.

They observed that localization of man-power and training policy had always been exploited to the advantage of the companies. The participants called for the putting of quota on jobs to be given to the local people in the mining communities.

Mr. Joe Nyankanmawo, Brong-Ahafo Regional Coordinating Director, who represented the Regional minister, Mr. Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, said that that there were gaps in Act 703 and was therefore the need to review and amend it.