President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is set to break ground for the construction of a $450 million manganese processing plant in Nsuta, Western Region on Thursday, November 21, 2024.

This announcement was made by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor who revealed that the project is in its final stages of preparation, with high hopes that construction will begin before the year ends.

The minister noted that this move is in pursuit of the goal to make Ghana a hub for adding value to mineral resources,

During a media tour of the Ghana Manganese Company (GMC) in the Western Region on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, Abu Jinapor praised the company's management and staff for their dedicated service to the nation.

He also highlighted the significant economic impact expected from the construction of the refinery plant, aligning with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's vision for Ghana's natural resources.

“The company is working to get its next strategic phase done and far advanced and I am happy to report that we are currently at the concluding phase of beginning the construction of a refinery here in Nsuta,” he noted.

Abu Jinapor emphasised that the refinery will mark a crucial milestone for the government's commitment to value addition in the mining sector adding that this shift from raw material exports to value-added products is anticipated to boost employment and revenue in the manganese industry.

“This will mean that products of this company, which have been shipped in their raw form for many years, will now have value addition in Ghana. A lot of work has been done on this matter. Teams from Ghana and China have visited both countries, and there has been a lot of work. At this stage, we are left with a few issues and getting parliamentary approval for the fiscal regime.

“Thereafter, we will be very much on the highway in terms of getting the refinery constructed and commissioned. This will mean that the centuries of exporting raw manganese will be a thing of the past. We are now going to have value addition and retain the reasonably highest end of the value chain of the manganese industry here in Ghana.

“It will have positive implications on employment and have several linkages, in terms of downstream industry and its economic effects. It forms part of President Akufo-Addo's vision for the mining sector of this country. The president's vision has been value addition for all our natural resources,” he explained.

Managing Director of GMC, Jurgen Eijgendaal expressed gratitude to Samuel Abu Jinapor for his visit and support.

He also confirmed that the company is preparing for the refinery project, with plans for significant investments and upgrades in various areas to ensure a steady supply of natural resources for the plant.

MA

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