Minerals Cadastre Administration System (MCAS), an online repository, has been launched to improve transparency and certainty in mineral right administration to ensure revenue compliance and attract investors for the extractive sector.

The launch marks the beginning towards the process of changing the face of mineral rights administration system from a semi-computerised to a modern and fully fledged geographical information system based computerized system in the country.

Ghana was among the first countries in Africa to have initiated the Mineral Rights Cadastre in 1999 but however the country was not able to realised that aspiration until recently when the Australian government provided the funding for the implementation of the project.

The repository, which is a web-based portal, would publish data directly from MCAS mining licence management system for review by stakeholders, including ministries, departments and agencies, investors and mining companies, customs agencies and civil society groups.

The portal currently presents data in two datasets mining licenses and small scale mining licenses and could be used by different parts of the government for different types of reporting and compliance analysis.

Dr. Toni Aubynn, Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission speaking at the launch of the MCAS said: “Since 1999, we have implemented a semi-computerised mining cadastral system in the granting of mineral rights.

“Thus this project will assist the Commission to effectively deliver on its key mandate of regulation and management of the utilization of the minerals resources of Ghana and the co-ordination of the policies in relation to them.

“The current registry of mineral rights at the Commission is fragmented with a reliance on hardcopy documents that makes it difficult to administer, monitor and report on the status of mineral right applications and licenses systematically throughout their life cycle,” he said.

Also, there are application processing delays because of long and complicated procedures while the current system does not support the tracking and monitoring of expected annual mineral right fees.

Dr. Aubynn said the project aims to help increase effectiveness, accountability and compliance in the management of mineral rights and related revenues.

It would also help improve access to information and increase transparency in Mineral Rights Administration and Associated Revenues.

Deputy Australian High Commissioner Mr. Adrian Cutler, said the implementation of a licence administration system for the mining sector in Ghana is a key strategic initiative in the process of making the country’s resources sector more attractive to investors.

He said the project will increase the accuracy and efficiency of the current system, improving transparency and certainty for investors and improving revenue compliance throughout the sector for the government.

“All this will create greater confidence in the system of administering mineral rights for investors and the government alike,” Mr. Cutler remarked.