A four-day capacity building programme to share ideas and experiences in the management of low value minerals within the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACEP) Group of States has been held in Accra.

The programme was aimed at building the profile and improving management of neglected development minerals, which include industrial minerals, construction materials, dimension stones, and semi-precious stones.

Nii Osah Mills, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, said Africa -- particularly West Africa -- plays a significant role in the production of mineral resources, with Guinea, Mali, Ghana and many others leading in production of the various resources.

He said since such low-value minerals help in the production of various infrastructure in the areas of transportation, energy and others, many countries are working to ensure they are properly mined and managed for their benefit.

Limestone, granite, sand, salt and clay are among low value minerals which are very useful for building infrastructural projects in most countries.

However, because their values are not as high as gold, bauxite, manganese and other precious/industrial minerals, they are given less attention in society -- leaving their production to people with little or no expertise to manage.

The workshop, dubbed ‘The Regional Training Workshop on Environment, Community, Health and Safety’, was attended by participants from ACEP countries to equip them with the knowledge and skills needed in harnessing the low value minerals. It was an initiative of the ACEP Group of States, and financed by the EU and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) -- which is also implementing it.

The training workshop falls under the three-year ACEP-European Union (EU) Development Minerals Programme that has a €13.1million Capacity Building Programme.

Mr. William Baidoo-Ansah, a Representative of the ECOWAS Commission, said the initiative should be able to help harness potentials from such resources to build the countries.

He expressed hope that the training workshop will help deepen understanding in management of the resources.

Mr. Jan van der Ploeg, the EU Representative, said the world sees Africa as an important player in minerals production and development, and that is why the initiative was introduced to help sustain that sector.

He said neglecting development of the minerals had closer links with the local economy, because they have the potential to generate more local jobs -- thus reducing poverty.

Mr. Mulugeta Adebe, Acting Country Director of UNDP, said the ACEP–EU Initiative is being implemented at both the regional and country levels -- saying at the regional level the programme involves training workshops, field-trips, the production of guidance products, and knowledge-sharing.

He said the aim of the capacity-building activities was to increase the sectors’ productivity, better manage mining operations, and adhere to national and international environmental and health standards, while preventing conflict through effective community relations.