Mrs Joyce Wireko-Brobbey, Chief Executive of the Chamber, said a
review of the payment would ensure that mining becomes the catalyst for the
development of mining areas.
She made this
known during an interaction between members of the chamber journalists at the
She said the
mining companies were pursuing alternative livelihood programmes to enhance
long-term sustainability of projects after mining operations. Mrs Wireko-Brobbey said the programmes would help the companies
to initiated projects that would give direct economic and social benefits to
the communities.
They involve
support for small, micro and medium enterprises, re-engineering of mined out
areas for tourism, acqua-culture and training of the
local people in snail and grass cutter rearing among other things.
Mrs Wireko-Brobbey expressed concern about the impact of mining
on the environment and said the chamber would support measures aimed at
reversing the trend.
The Chief
Executive said mining companies have initiated measures aimed at minimising the
impact of their activities on the environment.
She said
records at the Environmental Protection Agency indicated that the mining
industry has achieved over 75 per cent compliance with mining environmental
regulations and standards in 2002.
Mr Randy
Barnes, Operations Manager of Resolute Amansie
Resource, said the company's reclamation efforts and assistance to the
communities was underway.
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He noted that it had taken far too long for the government to take a
decision on the PSP and this was affecting the inflow of the needed capital
investment to rehabilitate and revitalise the water systems. Alhaji Idris was addressing the management
and staff of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) in the Ashanti Region in
He pointed out that there were a number of investors who were ready to
put their money into the sector to enhance efficiency in its performance but
were holding back their investment because the way had not yet been cleared.
The Minister said his Ministry would therefore be winding up the
on-going consultations with civil society organisations and other stakeholders
on the PSP this week.
He said so far the interactions had been "very positive" even
from the vocal critics of the private participation in water delivery. Alhaji Idris played down fears
that the PSP would make the price of water unaffordable to the poor, saying
that, the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) would be strengthened
to serve as a buffer between the providers and consumers.
He drew the attention of employees of the GWCL to the need for them to
help change the image of the company through the adoption of new work ethics.
"You should ensure that you establish good human relations, cultivate the
habit of spending a little more time to explain the difficult circumstances
under which you operate to your customers."
Alhaji Idris told
them to respond promptly to public complaints and deliver water bills on time.
S.G.O. Lamptey, Acting Managing Director of the
Company, called on the workers to resolve to work harder and show more
dedication to help turn the GWCL around.
They should also co-operate and support the sector Minister to make the
right policy decisions.
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Aflao (Greater Accra)
Many other dealers fled when they heard of the exercise to clamp down on
their activities on the
The source said the "unrefined activities" were causing
irreparable damage to the economy adding that, the operation would be sustained
to make the "environment hostile" for the dealers.
Trading in money without authority contravened section six of PNDC Law
238 of 1993. There have been several cases of duping travellers including
foreigners by the dealers at Aflao.
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