Ghana and Burkina Faso are to constitute a joint Technical Team to, among other things, facilitate Mining Operations for the mutual advancement of the two countries.
Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor who disclosed this, said Ghana is prepared to collaborate with Burkina Faso for the exploitation of its natural resources in an environmentally, friendly, and sustainable manner for the ultimate benefit of their people.
He stated this when the Burkina Faso Minister for Energy, Mines and Quarry, Dr. Bachir Ismael Ouedrago, called on him in Accra yesterday (March 16).
Mr Jinapor also noted that “the capital flight affecting Burkina Faso and Ghana in the area of mining is disturbing and both countries must work together to solve it”.
He maintained that, relations between the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his Burkinabe counterpart, Roch Marc Christian Kabore will further strengthen bilateral ties between the two Nations.
Dr. Bachir Ismael Ouedraogo embraced the call by his Ghanaian counterpart on a proposed memorandum of understanding between the two countries, and added that, Burkina Faso and Ghana’s collaboration in mining will mean that “ Africa is solving Africans problem”.
Other issues discussed at the meeting include the setting up of a Refinery in Burkina Faso to add value to its minerals resources and the urgent need to join forces to explore other key areas of mutual interest.
The Burkinabe Minister expressed keen interest in how Ghana is able to formulate her local content and local participation regulations in Minerals and Mining in the sub-region, and hope through collaboration, Burkina Faso will become a mining destination.
It is expected that under the MOU, young people of Burkina Faso will understudy their Ghanaian counterpart in the mining sector.
The three-member Burkinabe delegation also included the Burkina Faso Ambassador to Ghana, Pingrenoma Zagre.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor today, inaugurated a seven-member Ministerial Planning Committee chaired by former Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Benito Owusu-Bio who is also the member of Parliament for Atwima-Nwabiagya North to be responsible for the organization of the National Consultative Dialogue on Small Scale Mining as directed by President Akufo-Addo.
Story By: Felix Cofie
