Accra, Feb. 11, GNA - Ghana's delegation to this year's African Mining Partnership held in Cape Town, South Africa returned to Accra on Friday evening.

The delegation, led by the Minister of Lands, Forestry and Mines, Prof. Dominic Fobih, included the Chief Executive of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Ms Joyce Aryee, the Director of the Geological Survey Department, Philippa Amoako and the Director of the Minerals Commission, Ben Aryee. Twenty-six mining ministers from Africa attended the meeting. Speaking to newsmen on arrival, Prof. Fobih said member states touched on the need to promote foreign investment and local participation in mining ventures, and agreed to adopt and implement strategies that had great potentials to attract foreign investment and participation in local mining ventures.

On small-scale mining, he said it was agreed that a review of existing strategies for financing and marketing should be finalised so that the best practices be deployed and tested in selected countries. Prof. Fobih said it was also agreed that African geological surveyors should form an association that would look into problems associated with the establishment of a database on available geo-science information and regulatory framework.

He said in Ghana steps had been taken to ensure that mining did not degrade the environment.

This included soil reclamation and re-vegetation. The Minister said since some of the mining companies paid tolls on their mining activities, it was decided that their tolls be used by the communities in which they work for the development of these communities, including reclamation.