Features
Regulating income from the gold sector
The Precious Minerals Marketing Company (PMMC) has taken a bold step
to regulate and control gold export in the country
Ghana is entirely endowed with numerous gold deposits and as a result of this, substantial income has been derived from gold mining to finance numerous developmental projects in the various sectors of the economy.
Some of the developmental projects are building of schools, construction of roads, extension of water supply, health facilities in various parts of the country and the construction of houses, among others.
GOLD EXPORTED OUTSIDE
The mining of gold in the country has been ongoing for over 100 years so when it comes to gold deposits, it has helped the country substantially in its developmental projects.
In spite of this, the exact value or the amount of gold exported outside the country is not known because of certain problems that make it difficult for its exact estimated values. It is in light of this that as a country, we need to take steps to ensure that the exact amount and value of gold exported outside the country is known.
ILLEGAL MINING
Legal and illegal mining take place in the country even though government is taking steps to stop illegal mining.
Government has made it clear that it is not against the mining of gold but rather the illegal manner in which the activity is carried out. This explains why programmes have been rolled out to provide alternative employment for all illegal miners so that they will be encouraged to stop the illegal activity.
REGULATE AND CONTROL
The time has come for the state to take steps to regulate and control all activities related to gold mining so that the exact quantity and value exported out of the country can be known.
This will help in the developmental plans of the country as far as gold mining is concerned.
NEW DIRECTIVE
The Precious Minerals Marketing Company (PMMC) has taken a bold step to regulate and control gold export in the country. The company has directed that beginning October 2022, gold licence holders are mandated to file monthly returns on all gold purchases in the country.
This new directive is in line with the PMMC’s efforts and mandate –- as the sole assayer of gold in the country –- to sanitise, improve and properly regulate the downstream sector of the precious minerals industry.
GOVERNMENT OBJECTIVE
It is also in line with government’s objective to make Ghana a responsible sourcing hub for gold. The directive, which forms part of a review of certain terms and conditions for the sector by the PMMC, will be closely monitored and evaluated – with defaulting licence holders risking non-renewal of their licences.
The gold sector ought to be properly regulated by the PMMC to enable the country to know the exact quantity of gold it is exporting. If this is not done, part of the money derived from gold mining and export will get into wrong hands instead of state coffers for our common developmental agenda.
COLLABORATION
However, to achieve this, the PMMC will have to collaborate with other agencies where necessary so that the attainment of the maximum result for the country will be smoothly effected.
The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) is properly placed for accurate measurement of the quantity of gold being exported outside the country. Close collaboration with this organisation can, therefore, help the country to know the exact amount of gold exported as well as their value.
QUALITY & QUANTITY DETERMINATION
The cocoa sector, for example, is regulated by the COCOBOD but it collaborates with the GSA to determine the quantity and quality of cocoa beans exported out of the country.
Similarly, the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) is responsible for non-traditional exports but it also collaborates closely with the GSA to guarantee quality for the non-traditional export.
ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES
As a country, we cannot look on while the exact quantity of gold exported is not known. If the exact quantity is not known because of illegal activities and inaccurate measurements, then the exact amount of money derived from this activity cannot be known by the state at this time when much revenue is needed to undertake numerous developmental projects for the people.
The PMMC should be supported and encouraged by everyone in the country but they need to seek collaboration with the GSA to guarantee the livelihood and welfare of the present and future generations in this country.
By Dr. Kofi Amponsah-Bediako
Email address/whatsApp number of author:
Pradmat201@gmail.com (0553318911)
One of the issues we have been grappling with as a nation is corruption, and it has had such a devastating effect on our national development. I have been convinced that until morality becomes the foundation upon which our governance system is built, we can never go forward as a nation.
Our traditional practices, which have shaped our cultural beliefs, have always espoused values that have kept us along the straight and the narrow and have preserved our societies since ancient times.
These are values that frown on negative habits like stealing, cheating, greediness, selfishness, etc. Our grandparents have told us stories of societies where stealing was regarded as so shameful that offenders, when caught, have on a number of instances committed suicide.
In fact, my mother told me of a story where a man who was living in the same village as her mother (my grandmother), after having been caught stealing a neighbour’s cockerel, out of shame committed suicide on a mango tree. Those were the days that shameful acts were an abomination.
Tegare worship, a traditional spiritual worship during which the spirit possesses the Tegare Priest and begins to reveal secrets, was one of the means by which the society upheld African values in the days of my grandmother and the early childhood days of my mother.
Those were the days when the fear of being killed by Tegare prevented people from engaging in anti-social vices. These days, people sleeping with other people’s wives are not uncommon.
These wrongful behaviour was not countenanced at all by Tegare. One was likely going to lose his life on days that Tegare operates, and so unhealthy habits like coveting your neighbour’s wife was a taboo.
Stealing of other people’s farm produce, for instance, could mean certain death or incapacitation of the whole or part of the body in the full glare of everybody. People realised that there were consequences for wrongdoing, and this went a long way to motivate the society to adhere to right values.
Imagine a President being sworn into office and whoever administers the oath says, “Please say this after me: I, Mr. …., do solemnly swear by God, the spirits of my ancestors and the spirits ruling in Ghana, that should I engage in corrupt acts, may I and my family become crippled, may madness become entrenched in my family, may incurable sicknesses and diseases be my portion and that of my family, both immediate and extended.”
Can you imagine a situation where a few weeks afterwards the President goes to engage in corrupt acts and we hear of his sudden demise or incapacitation and confessing that he engaged in corrupt acts before passing or before the incapacitation—and the effect it will have on his successor? I believe we have to critically examine this option to curb corruption.
My grandmother gave me an eyewitness account of one such encounter where a woman died instantly after the Tegare Priest had revealed a wrong attitude she had displayed during the performance on one of the days scheduled for Tegare spirit manifestation.
According to her story, the Priest, after he had been possessed by the spirit, declared that for what the woman had done, he would not forgive her and that he would kill. Instantly, according to my grandmother, the lady fell down suddenly and she died—just like what happened to Ananias and his wife Sapphira in Acts Chapter 5.
NB: ‘CHANGE KOTOKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO KOFI BAAKO
By Laud Kissi-Mensah
Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
Emotional distortions can indeed have a profound impact on an individual’s mental health and well-being. These distortions can lead to a range of negative consequences, including anxiety, depression, and impaired relationships.
Emotional surgery is a therapeutic approach that aims to address and heal emotional wounds, traumas, and blockages. This approach recognises that emotional pain can have a profound impact on an individual’s quality of life and seeks to provide a comprehensive and compassionate approach to healing.
How emotional surgery can help
Emotional surgery can help individuals:
Identify and challenge negative thought patterns: By becoming aware of emotional distortions, individuals can learn to challenge and reframe negative thoughts.
Develop greater emotional resilience: Emotional surgery can help individuals develop the skills and strategies needed to manage their emotions and respond to challenging situations.
Improve relationships: By addressing emotional wounds and promoting emotional well-being, individuals can develop more positive and healthy relationships with others.
The benefits of emotional surgery
The benefits of emotional surgery can include:
Improved mental health outcomes: Emotional surgery can help individuals reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Enhanced relationships: Emotional surgery can help individuals develop more positive and healthy relationships with others.
Increased self-awareness: Emotional surgery can help individuals develop a deeper understanding of themselves and their emotions.
A path towards healing
Emotional surgery offers a promising approach to addressing emotional distortions and promoting emotional well-being. By acknowledging the impact of emotional pain and seeking to provide a comprehensive and compassionate approach to healing, individuals can take the first step towards recovery and improved mental health.
Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
BY ROBERT EKOW GRIMMOND-THOMPSON
