EPA holds consultative workshop for stakeholders in ASGM value chain

The Environmental Protec­tion Agency (EPA) in line with the planetGOLD Gha­na Project, has held a consultative workshop for stakeholders in the Artisanal Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) value chain in the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipality.

The purpose of the workshop, which took place last Thursday, was to gather input and expertise from stakeholders in order to facilitate the creation of a comprehensive Social License Protocol (SLP) that is in line with the project’s goals.

The planetGOLD Ghana Proj­ect, supported by the Global Envi­ronment Facility (GEF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisa­tion (UNIDO), is focused on four main components.

These components includes optimising formalisation through Jurisdictional Approaches (JAs), accelerating financial inclusion and responsible supply chains, enhanc­ing uptake of mercury-free tech­nologies, and fostering knowledge sharing and local capacity building support.

According to Mr Lovelace Sar­pong, the Project Coordinator, the project’s main goal was to reduce the risks associated with mercury use in the ASGM sector by enhanc­ing sound chemical management and eliminating pollution hazards, while promoting financial inclusion and transitioning to the formal economy.

He further explained that the projects aimed to build national and jurisdictional capacity to improve the country’s compliance with the Minamata Convention, in line with national environmental and for­malisation policies, as well as global initiatives on mercury reduction, respon­sible supply chains, and mineral resource governance.

In his opening speech, Mr Isaac Das­mani, the Municipal Chief Executive of the Prestea Huni Valley Municipal Assem­bly, praised the EPA and the project team for their educational efforts in the commu­nity.

He highlighted that despite the munici­pality’s abundant gold deposits, there were challenges in the min­ing sector.

Mr Dasmani encouraged small-scale miners to embrace the project’s new strategies, including mercury-free interven­tions, to promote responsible mining practices in the area.

He also urged miners to imple­ment the knowledge gained from the workshop to safeguard their health and the environment.

“I want to encourage the mining companies, both large and small-scale to fulfil their corporate social responsibility to help develop the communities in which they operate, in terms of education, health, wom­en empowerment among others,” he said.

The Safeguard Officer on the Project, Mr Isaac Owusu said mining played a major role in the development of the nation, stating that, about 13 out of the 16 regions in Ghana were endowed with min­eral deposits.

He stated that, the small-scale mining value chain support millions of livelihoods of Ghanaians, however, environmental impacts arise during all stages of the mining processes

 BY CECILIA LAGBA YADA