Mining, agric could maintain complementary relationship – Minister

Mr Clement Kofi Humado, Minister of Food and Agriculture, on Monday said good collaboration between the mining and agriculture sectors of the country could boost socio-economic development.

He said both sectors could always maintain a complementary relationship by replanting degraded mining areas and producing food crops around mining communities, saying this would not only boost agricultural production to feed the populace but also create jobs for the youth.

Mr Humado said this when a delegation from the Ghana Chamber of Mines paid a courtesy call on him in Accra.

He said it was a popular perception that mining and agriculture always conflicted but it was important to note that both sectors could stand on a common ground.

Mr Humado said efforts must be made to ensure that mining communities maintained a good environment so that even after mining activities had stopped on a particular land it could still be used for agricultural purposes.

Mr Humado said it was important for national and district assemblies to recognize the link between the two sectors and mainstream them into the assembly system, adding that an agreement would also be worked out for the collaboration involving most local government institutions.

Dr Toni Aubynn, Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Mines, and leader of the delegation, said the call was to congratulate the minister on his new appointment and to find out how best both sectors could collaborate for their mutual benefit.

He said both sectors could establish strong relationship among themselves and complement each other, adding that it was the duty of both parties to ensure that the success of the collaboration became a shared responsibility.

Dr Aubynn assured the minister that the Chamber of Mines was ever willing to support the collaboration for the benefit of all .

The delegation later called on Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang, Minister of Education, to congratulate her on her new appointment and find out how best the ministry could collaborate with the Chamber of Mines for the development of education.

Source: GNA