![](https://dailystatesman.com.gh/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/George-Mireku-Duker-Deputy-Lands-Minister-flanked-by-officers-of-the-ministry-and-GMC-workers.jpg)
George Mireku Duker, Deputy Lands Minister, flanked by officers of the ministry and GMC workers
![](http://dailystatesman.com.gh/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/George-Mireku-Duker-Deputy-Lands-Minister-flanked-by-officers-of-the-ministry-and-GMC-workers.jpg)
A Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, George Mireku Duker, has called on mining companies operating in Ghana to take intentional and strategic actions to improve their relationships with communities in their catchment areas.
Speaking during a working visit to the Ghana Manganese Company (GMC), he emphasised that the development of these communities should be a central focus for mining companies, fostering mutually-beneficial and sustainable partnerships.
The Deputy Minister advocated for mining companies to establish comprehensive community-development plans. He stressed the importance of engaging all relevant stakeholders to gain a better understanding of the specific needs and concerns of the communities they aim to support.
Key areas
Mr Mireku Duker highlighted several key areas, including infrastructure, education, healthcare, and access to clean water, as avenues for implementing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
He also urged companies to be transparent and accountable by sharing information about their operations and the status of their activities with the communities they operate in.
“Every mining company should work closely with local chiefs to design CSR plans that address the unique needs of their communities. By doing so, they can ensure that these plans are integrated into their operational expectations from the beginning of each year,” he stated.
The Deputy Minister encouraged the management of GMC to actively publicize their CSR projects to raise awareness of their positive impact within the communities. He also recommended the establishment of a dedicated fund for carrying out these responsibilities.
He further pointed out specific challenges faced by the communities, including inadequate road networks and public sanitation facilities, and called upon the company to take swift action to address these issues.
Mr. Joseph Ampong, the General Manager of Ghana Manganese Company, acknowledged that the company’s CSR efforts had been hampered by factors such as its inactivity due to the Russia-Ukraine war.
However, he shared that the company had still managed to support initiatives such as funding the education of deserving but financially disadvantaged students and rehabilitating local roads.