Bauxite mining won’t endanger wildlife stock – Akufo-Addo

President Nana Akufo-Addo has assured the exploitation of the country’s bauxite resources particularly in Atewa will be guided by best international practices and technology to ensure that wildlife stock in the mining environment are not endangered.

Addressing the Sustainable Ocean Industries Conference, President Akufo-Addo, in answer to a question as to how the exploitation of Ghana Bauxite resources will not compromise the environment said it was a very legitimate balance that ought to be struck and that the leadership of the country was looking to achieve same balance.

“The technology of today is much more sensitive to these issues because of the pressure that is being brought on the bauxite and oil companies to take it into account. So to some extent, beginning now, the full scale exploitation of Ghanaian bauxite resources, we are in a better place technology-wise than we would have been 20, 30 years ago,” the President said.

He further stated that, “I am satisfied by what I have been told and what has been demonstrated to me that it is possible for us to get that red mud out without disturbing the wildlife that there is in the Atiwaa mountains”.

The event was organised under the auspices of the Petroleum Commission of Ghana, Aker Energy and the Norwegian Embassy in Ghana as part of a two-day state visit of the Prime Minister of Norway to Ghana.

Mr. Akufo-Addo additionally assured that the executive will keep a close eye on the bauxite sector to make the exploitation of bauxite to drive the country’s development a success and at the same time ensuring maximum protection of the environment and the wildlife stock in the mining areas.

“What is important for us, is to keep our eyes on both goals. The requirement of development but at the same time the balance that we must strike with the environment as we carry out the mining activities.

Norwegian Prime Minister

The Norwegian Prime Minister, Erna Solberg, said Sustainable Development Goal 14 which states that “Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources,” is at the heart of the resource exploitation space in the world. She entreated actors in the mining sector to take adequate steps through the use of technology to protect the environment and for that matter man’s existence on the earth.

Aker Energy

Aker Energy, an energy and petroleum company in Ghana which is part of the wider Aker Group of companies based in Norway, pledged to continue its investments in the energy sector as well as support all efforts aimed at protecting the environment in mining areas where they have interest.