The Minerals Commission's state-of-the-art Ashanti Regional office complex, an eight-story multi-purpose facility, is nearing completion and is expected to be commissioned by October 2024.
This was confirmed by Project Consultant Mr. Osei Tutu during an inspection visit by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, MP, on May 27, 2024.
The inspection tour allowed the Lands Minister to assess the progress of the construction, which will serve as a hub for the Minerals Commission's regulatory and oversight activities in the Ashanti Region and the middle belt of Ghana, including the Western North and Central Regions.
In his address to the press, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor emphasized the importance of a fully operational Minerals Commission office in ensuring effective regulation of the mining sector.
He noted the government's commitment to decentralizing the Minerals Commission, highlighted by the construction of this new regional office.
“I have to commend the CEO of the Minerals Commission, the consultants, the contractors, and everyone who has worked so diligently to ensure that we put up this extraordinary office for the Ashanti Regional Minerals Commission. If we are going to come to grips with mining, particularly large-scale mining, which contributes significantly to the national economy, as well as small-scale mining, then the Minerals Commission must have the requisite structure, personnel, and operational capacity to regulate the mining sector"
This government has taken the initiative to ensure that the regulation of mining activities is decentralized, and we are on course,” he stated.
Minister Jinapor also underscored the significance of the investment made by the government under President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, noting that the new building will be the tallest in Kumasi.
He assured that the facility would enhance the Commission's capability to conduct rigorous investigations and oversight of mining activities.
"The contractors have assured us that the building will be handed over by the end of September, and I will ensure they adhere to this timeline. I will also seek the concurrence of His Royal Majesty Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu, to commission the project in the first week of October," Jinapor added.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Mr. Martin Kwaku Ayisi, revealed that the project, initially estimated at GH₵80 million, includes plans to lease some office spaces within the complex to generate revenue.
He also highlighted a comprehensive maintenance plan to ensure the facility's sustainability and benefits.
Project Consultant Mr. Osei Tutu provided a detailed update on the construction progress, stating that the project is 71% complete.
He detailed that while preliminaries are at 60% and the ground floor at 63%, the main building structure is fully complete, and overall progress for the seven-story main block and laboratory is 63%.
Since 2021, the Minerals Commission has embarked on a significant infrastructural development drive across Ghana’s ten mining regions.
This initiative aims to decentralize the Commission's services, streamline mining operations, and bring regulatory activities closer to stakeholders.
The completion of the Ashanti Regional office complex marks a major milestone in this nationwide infrastructural expansion, reaffirming the government's dedication to advancing the mining sector.
Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith
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