The Commission further received 187 desktop and 68 laptop computers, 10 blast monitors, 11 photocopiers, 19 printers, three survey equipment, two plotters, three projectors, five scanners and one backup storage device. 

At a presentation ceremony yesterday in Accra, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, tasked staff of the commission to work hard to promote health and safety in the mining industry.

He said the commission, which was mandated to regulate activities in the mining sector, had been under scrutiny within the past few weeks due to the fatal explosion at Appiatse in the Prestea-Huni-Valley Municipality of the Western Region.

He said the incident had brought into sharp focus the effectiveness of the commission in regulating the mining sector.

He therefore asked the staff to increase their efforts, especially on monitoring and to ensure the right processes and activities were undertaken as expected of all players.

Mr Jinapor explained that a robust health and safety regime was globally recognised as the hallmark of a growing mining industry and urged the staff to play their individual roles in curbing disasters.

He said the Ministry viewed the staff as partners in achieving the mandate of the commission, adding that the provision of vehicles and logistics was to adequately resource the staff to be effective in their work.

The commission within the past years, he noted, had achieved significant results regulating the mining sector and helping to deal with the canker of illegal mining.

“These vehicles and other logistics are to help you improve monitoring. Let’s work as partners and do more to ensure safety in the mining sector,” Mr Jinapor added.

Chairman of the Minerals Commission, Barbara Oteng-Gyasi, expressed her gratitude to the government, adding that the timely support would help the commission to undertake their monitoring and inspectorate duties more effectively.

She said the logistics were critical to the work of the commission and implored the staff of the commission to “do your work well and protect the entire nation.”

Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Martin Ayisi, said the logistical support was a welcome intervention which has come about through continuous consultations with the Ministry and further pledged that his outfit would ensure the logistical support would be put to good use.