By: Nicholas Osei-Wusu
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu, is upbeat about prospects of Ghana’s economy following confirmation of commercial quantity of bauxite deposit within the Nyinahin Range in the Ashanti region.
The positive outlook, Otumfuo Osei Tutu noted, is even brighter with plans by the government to establish an Aluminum Refinery to add value to the raw mineral for the country to derive optimal value.
The Asantehene has, however, appealed to the government to name a future bauxite mining company after ‘Ashanti’ as was the case of the then Ashanti Goldfields Corporation in recognition and appreciation of the contribution of Ashanti region to Ghana’s mineral wealth.
The Asantehene made the appeal at the Manhyia Palace when the Board of Directors of the Ghana Integrated Aluminum Development Corporation, GIADEC called on him in Kumasi.
The Board of Directors of the Ghana Integrated Aluminum Development Corporation, GIADEC was at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi to officially inform the Asantehene about the outcome of an exploration exercise carried out within the Nyinahin Range in the Ashanti region.
The GIADEC delegation had returned to the Manhyia Palace to report back to the Asantehene results of the exploration having informed him about the exploration exercise before it began a year ago.
The delegation was led by the Board Chairman, Dr. Anthony Oteng Gyasi, and included the Chief Executive, Mr. Michael Ansah.
It came to light that, the exploration has confirmed an estimated 375 million tons of bauxite deposit in the Hills Four, Five and Six of the Nyinahin Range bringing to total of about 500 million tons the quantity of bauxite deposit within that range.
The Asantehene, upon hearing the report expressed excitement about the development and was particularly upbeat about the outlook on Ghana’s socio-economic development, especially when Government plans to establish a Refinery to add value to the raw minerals before trading it.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu, while commending GIADEC and its partners for the successful exploratory work done, appealed to government to consider any future bauxite mine in the Nyinahin enclave after ‘Ashanti’ in recognition and appreciation of the contribution of Ashanti region to development of bauxite in the country.
He was upbeat about the prospect of Ghana’s future economy with bauxite.
The Asantehene was particularly excited about the employment opportunities to be available through bauxite mining for the people in Ashanti in particular.
The Chief Executive of GIADEC, Michael Ansah, noted that, his outfit and Rocksure are set to set up a joint venture while working towards Cabinet and Parliamentary approvals
a mining lease to allow for commercial exploitation of the mineral resource and also to set up a bauxite Mine and Refinery.
The GIADEC CEO assured that all the environmental impact assessments have been completed to engender an environmentally responsible mining that will protect both flora and fauna.
