As part of ongoing efforts to decentralize the Minerals Commission, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel A. Jinapor, has commissioned a modern office equipped with the latest technology in Bibiani, located in the Bibiani/Anhwiaso/Bekwai Municipality of the Western North Region.
This newly constructed office further demonstrates the government’s commitment to decentralizing the Minerals Commission, allowing it to provide effective oversight in the Western North Region and beyond.
Addressing a gathering of traditional authorities, management and staff of the Minerals Commission, and local residents, the Minister emphasized the importance of a well-designed building for the efficient regulation of mining activities in the region. He highlighted specific features of the new office that make it an ideal hub for mining-related activities and urged the staff to meet the commission’s expectations.
“Despite the importance of this office to the mining industry, it has been housed in a cramped rented space for over thirty years. This has clearly hindered the recruitment of new staff needed to support the office’s work. The inadequacy of the space became even more apparent after the internal restructuring of the Minerals Commission, which necessitated an increase in services at the regional and district offices, such as cartography, surveys, community relations, and environmental protection,” he stated.
“With three large-scale mining operations in this Municipality—Awaso, Bibiani, and Chirano—it was essential to secure a more conducive working environment for the Commission to effectively regulate mining operations and provide comprehensive support for the sector,” he added.
