The menace of underdevelopment, lack of jobs for the youth and the absence of environmentally sustainable mining in Ghana will not be the story of bauxite mining communities in Ghana any longer as the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Company (GIADEC) leads the fort of mining and refining bauxite into aluminium in the country.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GIADEC, Michael Ansah has assured Ghanaians, particularly the bauxite mining communities, of better living conditions as the company comes on board with transformative ideas to positively impact them.
Mr. Ansah gave the assurance when he led GIADEC’s board and management team to inaugurate a 19-member Committee for the various bauxite mining communities in the country.
Mining activities have over the years become the bane of the economy as it is one of the major causes of environmental and health problems.
A report by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) on the effects of mining in 2013 and studied by GIADEC revealed that across the world, mining contributes to ''erosion, sinkholes, deforestation, loss of biodiversity, significant use of water resources, dammed rivers and ponded waters, wastewater disposal issues, acid mine drainage and contamination of soil, ground and surface water, all of which can lead to health issues in local populations''.
The report is no fiction as Ghanaians are witnesses to the adverse effects of mining on the Birim River in the Eastern Region and how mining activities have disrupted people's way of living, destroyed comunities and claimed human lives among others.
It is for the reason of preventing these negative mining effects and transforming mining communities as well as protecting the environment that GIADEC has set up a 19-member Committee in each of the bauxite mining communities, specifically Asiakwa (Atewa) in the Eastern Region, Awaso in Western North, Nyinahini and Mpasaaso in the Ashanti Region.
GIADEC is an institution mandated to develop and promote an integrated aluminium industry and expand existing operations in bauxite mining and aluminium smelting, and also introduce alumina refining to the country.
The 19-member Committee is to support GIADEC’s pursuit of ''a 100 percent environmentally sustainable means of mining that will protect the health and safety of citizens and workers''.
Speaking at the inaugurations in the Regions, GIADEC CEO allayed the fears of the people in the mining communities as a result of galamsey menace and emphasized the company will adopt an environmentally safe and sustainable practices.
He cited some of the best practices as preserving the waterbodies, planting trees to keep the forest reserves among others to benefit the communities.
Other speakers at the event also bemoaned the slow pace of development in mining communities with particular mention of Obuasi and Bibiani which are the hub of mining but little to naught come be said of the infrastructural development in such communities.
The Chief of Awaso in Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai municipality, Western North Region where bauxite has been mined for close to 80 years, Nana Kwame Amponsah Debrah III also lamented the poor living conditions and underdevelopment of the town.
The Chief was however was hopeful, with the coming of GIADEC, the mining communities will see significant developments.
At Asiakwa (Atewa) in the Eastern Region, the Okyehemaa of the area, Ohemaa Nana Adutwumwaa Dokuaa pledged her community's support for the operations of GIADEC.
Mr. Michael Ansah, in his concluding remarks, elaborated on President Nana Akufo-Addo's vision for the bauxite mining communities saying the Government of Ghana has identified the creation of an Integrated Aluminium Industry (IAI) as one of the major pillars for development in the communities and transformation of the Ghana's economy.
He further stressed the President Nana Akufo Addo has directed that GIADEC together with investors employs the youth in the areas to create jobs for them.
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