The Head of Trade and Industries at the Canadian High Commission in Ghana, Mr. Sebastien Moffet disclosed the fear of high taxes and utilities as one of the main factors scaring Canadian mining companies away from investing in Ghana. Mr. Moffet was speaking at a Community Social Responsibility (CSR) forum organized by the Canadian High Commission on the theme “addressing environmental challenges towards sustainable mining in Ghana” in Accra yesterday.

“Most mining companies wanted to come invest in Ghana, but the rate at which we are increasing Electricity and water tariffs plus increased mining taxes are scaring them away and we as the Commission can’t do anything about it.” he said According to him, all mining investors from Canada who thought of doing business in Ghana are now choosing Cote d’voir ,where tariffs and taxes a bit down as compared to Ghana.

The theme for the forum was done by a panel which consisted Mr. Richard Ellimah, Executive Director for Center for Social Impact Studies, Mr. Ransford Sekyi, Director/intersectoral Network, Environmental Protection Authority. Other panel members were Mr. Kenneth Norris, VP and General Manager, Chirano Gold Mines Ltd and Mr. Jeffrey Davidson, CSR Counsellor (Canada)