NDC Manifesto Policy:4.3.2.1 Mining The next NDC government...

NDC Manifesto Policy:

4.3.2.1 Mining The next NDC government will:

Re-categorize mining in Ghana into small-scale (SSM), medium scale (MSM), and large-scale (LSM), each with tailored regulatory, operational, environmental, and safety requirements; promote sustainable SSM as a profitable and responsible business especially for young people by enforcing regulations and applying state-of-the-art technology, including AI, to track all excavators and geo-fence all SSM concessions in Ghana;

Ensure that mining operations are not conducted in unapproved areas, such as water bodies, and that the concession holders rehabilitate impacted areas;

Facilitate the setting up of mining equipment pools in each small-scale mining district, to ensure easy and affordable access to necessary mining equipment;

Enhance the capacity of the Minerals Commission to facilitate gold trade, provide mining support services, and ensure efficiency and sustainability in mining operations and to regulate the sector; facilitate equipment financing and mining input, research and standardization, gold recovery optimization, and post-mining land reclamation services;

Strengthen the capacity of mining regulatory institutions to ensure efficient and effective regulatory operations with quick turnaround times and to engage with stakeholders effectively;

Amend and strengthen the laws and regulations governing the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) to include clear guidelines and strict transparency measures for investing mineral revenue;

Provide a predictable regulatory regime and build confidence for local and foreign investors; collaborate with local and foreign partners to invest in National Minerals Mapping, particularly for mapping and developing lithium and other critical mineral deposits in Ghana;

Decentralise regulatory and licensing processes for artisanal miners and implement a ‘Tree for Life’ reforestation policy (with cocoa, palm and rubber) and a Blue Water Initiative to heal and harness the environment by turning areas degraded by illegal mining into hubs of economic and ecological recovery. introduce a system of offset programmes that sets aside part of the royalties due to the government for direct leverage on infrastructure development in mining areas; work with industry stakeholders to revamp the local goldsmithing and jewellery subsector to increase value addition and global competitiveness;

Promote the production of branded coins and other artefacts; and build the capacity of goldsmiths and jewellery makers to effectively participate in the process. set up a Ghana Gold Board (GOLDBOD) to regulate the small-scale mining sector. This board will restructure the small-scale mining sector;

Abolish the Community Mining system which is highly partisan, exclusive and defeatist of its own purpose, and establish Artisanal Small-scale mining Cooperatives (ASMCs) for community members interested artisanal small-scale mining;

Abolish VAT on mineral exploration; and develop special regulatory policies for the development of our critical minerals to ensure improved benefit for our country.

4.3.2.3 Industrial Minerals Development We will:

Promote the exploitation of and value addition to mineral deposits, such as limestone, kaolin, iron ore, clay, salt, lithium, aluminium sulphate, oil, and natural gas, in ways that respect the environment while ensuring sustainable development;

And attract investments into the non-agricultural raw materials sector to create jobs and stimulate economic development.