The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, and the Ministry of Finance are holding discussions to stop the 12 per cent capping of the Minerals Development Fund (MDF), Mr Asuma Kyeremah, Lands and Natural Resources Minister has said.

According to Mr Kyeremeh the decision to stop the capping of the MDF was part of government’s commitment to use sustainable measures to counteract mining problems and to improve development in the mining communities.

“Stopping the 12 per cent capping would mean more money to the mining communities to support developmental projects among other things in these communities,” he explained.

Mr Kyeremeh said this in a speech read on his behalf by the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Simon Osei Mensah, during the inauguration of the Obuasi Local Management Committee (LMC) of the Mining Community Development Scheme (MCDs) under the Minerals Development Fund (MDF) in Obuasi.

Mr Kyeremeh said the board of the MDF and the LMC would collaborate to offer sustainable initiatives and expedite the implementation of MCDs as he acknowledged the efforts and contributions of the various mining companies to the scheme.

The nine-member committee would see to the management of the scheme which was presented with an initial seed capital of GH¢1 million.

The membership of the committee included the Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Elijah Adansi Bonah, one traditional ruler each from New Edubiase, Akrokere and Dompoase Divisional Traditional Council, a representative each from the Municipal Office of the Minerals Commission, the Anglo Gold Ashanti, Identified Women’s Group, and Identified Youth Groups.

Accepting their mandate, the Chairman of the Committee, Mr Gabriel Nyamekye, assured that, they (the committee) would uphold the integrity and purpose for the establishment of the committee which was for the development of the Adansi area.

He noted that, the committee would not tolerate any diversion and misappropriation of the fund as they were committed to leaving a legacy for the future generation of the Adansi area.

Gold Mining in the Obuasi town has existed for over 120 years with the town and its environs seeing little development especially in the area of roads which was only recently awarded for construction as part of the Kumasi to Obuasi road project.