His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene, is making efforts to guarantee that gold purchased from Ghana is mined and traded ethically.
In line with this, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has made a commitment to establishing the Ghana Responsible Gold Mining Summit, which will endeavor to guarantee that gold obtained from Ghana’s small-scale mining sector is mined and traded ethically and in conformity with international standards.
His Majesty has shown a great deal of dedication to the fight against illicit mining and the promotion of ethical mining, and at the Summit, he will collaborate with key players to make sure that efforts to stop environmental degradation are planned out and properly supported.
The Summit, which would precede Otumfuo Osei Tutu II’s 24th Coronation Anniversary, is set to take place on April 7 and 8, 2023, at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, Ashanti.
Africa Responsible Mining will serve as the summit’s host in association with E ON 3 Group and Ansong Askew Ltd.
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, its agencies, and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development all support the event (OECD).
International market makers and other stakeholders will also work together in some capacity.
Outcomes
Outputs from the Ghana Responsible Gold Mining Summit will focus on aligning Ghana’s small-scale mining sector with the expectations of international markets.
This will include measures to increase transparency and accountability in the sector in line with international standards of responsible sourcing.
Commitment so far
To make sure that gold sourced from Ghana is ethically mined and traded, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II will cooperate with the government of Ghana, traditional leaders, political leaders, and international players.
His Majesty is dedicated to fostering trust among the international community about accountability and transparency in Ghana’s small-scale mining industry.
It’s amazing how hard the Asantehene has worked to safeguard the environment and how much he despises unlawful mining.
He had been blunt about the necessity for Ghana to switch to ethical mining at several forums.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II vowed to punish chiefs under his jurisdiction who participate in or aid in illicit mining activities at a regional consultative dialogue on small-scale mining held in Kumasi in May 2021.
On October 14, 2022, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II addressed the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs in Kumasi and criticized his sub-chiefs for refusing to join the fight against illegal mining and instead accepting money from those who mine illegally, making it difficult for them to contribute in any significant way.
He brought up President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s pledge to put his presidency on the line during the height of the fight against the illegal mining menace again in October 2022 when US Ambassador to Ghana Virginia Palmer paid a visit to His Majesty at the Manhyia Palace. He questioned why the President had even put his presidency on the line when illegal mining was still taking place.
His Majesty also reiterated his efforts to eradicate illegal mining from his domain at the final meeting of the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs for the year 2022, held in Kumasi on December 14. He even went so far as to announce that, starting in the following year (2023), his office will call on chiefs whose lands have been destroyed by illegal mining for questioning.
In order to teach them a lesson and ensure that their territories are protected from unauthorized mining, he forewarned that any chief who is unable to offer convincing justifications will face consequences.
