Lawrence Nortey
13 August 2008
The Ghana Chamber of Mines has presented total of GH¢ 24,300 to 18 institutions across the country for their immense contributions towards national development.
At the presentation ceremony, the Chief Executive Officer of G. C. M, Ms. Joyce Aryee said the donations are made every year as part of their social responsibility agenda.
"Social responsibility has become an integral part of the wealth creation process and we intend to manage it properly in order to enhance the viability of our business and as well as maximize the value of wealth creation to society,' she said.
The 18 beneficiary institutions were the Ghana National Scholarships Beneficiaries Association, Students in Free Enterprise, Ghana Heart Foundation, College of Health Sciences, National Theatre, National Fire Service, Head of State Award Scheme, National Farmers' Day and Nandom Naa.
Others were University of Mines and Technology, KNUST Medical Students Association, Ghana Journalists Association (Western Region), National Trust Fund, National Union of Ghana Students, Ghana Medical Association, Glaucoma Association of Ghana, Western Region Nurses Award and Women in Technical Education.
Ms Aryee stated that there is a growing interest in businesses taking a lead in complementing the efforts of governments in promoting socio-economic development, citing the focus of G.C.M in supporting various institutions as an example of such complementary roles.
She said mining companies voluntarily provide at immense cost, schools, potable water and electricity for their host communities, adding that in 2007 alone member companies contributed GH¢13,559,000 to support both national and local development.
She added that over the same period US$ 302,000,000 representing 61 per cent of total mineral revenue in foreign exchange was returned to Ghana.
"The contribution of mining to national development is not limited to the benefits that accrue from the operation of the mines as stand-alone companies. By its very presence, the mining industry has spawned local secondary industries that supply essential inputs to the mining companies' production process.
And these secondary industries also offer employment and pay taxes to the government," she stated.
She said Ghana Manganese Company Limited contributed over GH¢ 150,000 for social development in the Essuoso Traditional Area of the Tarkwa-Nsueam Municipal Area in 2007 alone.
She said "the mining industry is not against small scale mining", but rather the laws of Ghana do not make room for Ghanaians to lawfully engage in small scale mining.
Ms Joyce Aryee said the Chamber does not and will not condone unregistered and unlicensed mining on the bonafide concessions of member companies.
She said the Chamber supports and will actively support licensed small scale mining as well as assisting capacity building for licensed artisanal and small-scale miners in identified area.
She said deliberate policies should be targeted at the exploitation and utilization of industrial minerals such as lime, marble kaolin, salt and mica which abound in Ghana to diversify the social and economic benefits derived from mining.
She noted that the intangible benefits of mining, such as employment generation, long term capital formation, social investments as well as skills transfer complement the fiscal payments to the State as a total package of benefits to the country.
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