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Displaced Appiatse residents would be resettled – EPA Executive Director
The Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Henry Kwabena Kokofu has paid a working visit to Appiatse, near Bogoso in the Prestea-Huni Valley Municipality of the Western Region last week.
He was accompanied by the Deputy Executive Director of EPA in-charge of Chemical Control and Management Centre, Dr. Ransford Sekyi, Director of Mining, Mr. Sandow Ali, Western Regional Director, Mr. George Diewuoh, Tarkwa Regional Director, Mr. Prosper Yaw Nkrumah, the Municipal Chief Executive of Prestea-Huni Valley, Dr. Isaac Dasmani and others.
Addressing the media after inspecting the area, Dr. Kokofu said the visit was to join the forces like the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Fire Service, NADMO and other relevant agencies who which played a major role to bring comfort to the victims.
He appealed to the people of Appiatse to exercise restraint as government and other benevolent people put the necessary arrangements in place to resettle the displaced inhabitants.
He said the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia had earlier told the inhabitants of Appiatse that government would consult all relevant bodies to help in the reconstruction of the community.
Dr. Kokofu said the good news was that the blasting did not make the place uninhabitable so his office after taking samples of the soil and water from different locations would test the samples in the laboratories and return with the report.
The Executive Director asked the assembly to write to the EPA for a permit for the reconstruction of the community and after all the debris had been collected the construction work could start.
He appealed to the inhabitants especially the youth to exercise restraint as government teamed up with other bodies to find a solution to the problem.
The MCE, Dr. Dasmani on his part said the visit of the EPA team was very timely because it would enable him write for the permit to begin the reconstruction of Appiatse.
He thanked all the agencies for contributing in diverse ways to bring comfort to the people and appealed for more relief items for the displaced.
The EPA also donated 200 bags of cement towards the improvement of the temporary structures allocated to the displaced persons.
From Peter Gbambila, Appiatse
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Ghana to locally refine its gold starting October 2025 – Sammy Gyamfi
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board, Sammy Gyamfi, has announced that plans are far advanced for the establishment of a state-owned gold refinery in the country.
Speaking at the 2025 Minerals and Mining Convention, Mr Gyamfi said the refinery will process locally mined gold into bullion instead of exporting it in its raw state.
According to him, it is unacceptable that Ghana, despite being a leading gold producer in Africa, continues to export raw gold known as dore.
He explained that the Gold Board, working with the Bank of Ghana and local refineries, will from October 2025 begin refining gold locally.
He also disclosed that an ultramodern assay laboratory will be built to ensure international standards in testing gold quality.
Mr Gyamfi noted that the refinery will be wholly state-owned and will help Ghana move away from raw mineral exports to value addition.
This, he said, will boost foreign exchange earnings, create jobs, and position Ghana as a hub for gold refining and jewellery production in Africa.
The CEO stressed that the project forms part of government’s strategy to ensure the country benefits fully from its natural resources and to transform the mining sector into a driver of economic growth.
By: Jacob Aggrey
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There is strength in diversity; let’s live in peace – Zanetor Rawlings urges Ghanaians
Member of Parliament for Korle Klottey, Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, has urged Ghanaians, especially the youth, to value the peace the country enjoys and to see diversity as a source of strength.
Speaking at the National Youth Conference held at the Pentecost Convention Centre under the theme “Igniting Potential; Inspiring Change”, she warned against being lured into conflicts and divisions fueled by reckless statements from politicians, traditional leaders, religious figures, or academics.
According to her, many young people have no idea what it means to live in a country torn apart by war, and therefore must not take Ghana’s peace for granted.
She stressed that the harmony among different ethnic and regional groups should be protected at all costs, since it is peace that allows citizens to gather freely and safely.
Dr. Zanetor said Ghana’s development depends on embracing diversity and working together.
She urged the youth to tap into this strength so that Ghana would continue to shine as the “Black Star” of Africa and serve as an example for other nations.
She expressed appreciation to the participants for attending the conference and asked for God’s blessings on the country.
By: Jacob Aggrey
