Mining industry relations to be boosted in Ghana

The International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), is launching a global series of in-country, cross-sector dialogue on artisanal and small-scale gold mining with the first in country dialogue to be held in Ghana.

IIED has therefore released a tender for local organisations to manage the in-country dialogue process supported by The Tiffany & Co. Foundation.

The process would begin with the tender with plans to hold the dialogue in November.

A statement from Katherine Mansell, IIED’s Media and External Relations Officer, encouraged organisations that are knowledgeable in mining and engage closely with local mining communities to bid.

The organisations should have a proven ability to convene multiple stakeholders across society, the private sector, government, and civil society organisations in Ghana.

The successful organisation would work closely with IIED and a researcher with expertise on artisanal and small-scale mining in Ghana, the statement said.

Mining is a major contributor to the economy.

In 2014, it contributed 38 per cent of merchandise exports, of which gold contributed more than 95 per cent of the total mineral exports.

In the same year, formal small-scale mining contributed almost 1.5 million ounces of gold, representing 35.4 per cent of the total gold produced.

The contribution has increased steadily from 2.2 per cent in 1989 to 35.4 per cent in 2014.

IIED is an independent, non-profit research institute. Set up in 1971 and based in London, IIED provides expertise and leadership in researching and achieving sustainable development.

Source: GNA