A Deputy Finance Minister, Charles Adu-Boahen, has said funds from the Agyapa Royalties deal would be used to support four broad key areas in the mining sector.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Thursday, August 27, Mr Adu-Boahen said the funds will be invested in primary capital expenditure in education, health, housing and infrastructure sectors.
“For education, upgrade existing schools in the mining areas,” he stated.
“In University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), we will look to enhance operations by helping them set up a training or jewelry design course so that we can create more value out of the gold chain [from] just the old gold chain.
“We want to go further up the value in the chain and not just mine raw ore but export it in its raw form by building refineries.
“Build health facilities across the country especially in the mining areas where miners are always running at the risk of their lives.
“We believe it will be good to use the money to support initiatives under the housing sector.
“Infrastructure, there is a lot of roads at the mining areas in fact a few of the mining companies as part of their social corporate responsibility, done the roads and improve the road.
“It’s important that these roads are improved in order to attract investment to these areas.
“[Also] support the new development bank we are setting up which is going to be used primarily for development and also the Ghana Infrastructure Fund (GIF),” he added.
By Kezia Owusu Afram|3news.com|Ghana