ACCRA, June 13 (Xinhua) -- The Government of Ghana seeks to use a more cost-effective and reliable energy supply as an incentive to attract more investments into the mining sector, deputy energy minister Mohammed Amin Adams has told the mining industry players.
In his keynote speech at the ongoing three-day Ghana Mining and Energy Forum 2019, Adam said since the economy depends heavily on mining, it is imperative for the government to make the sector very attractive for investors.
"At this moment in our development history, it has become necessary for us to deepen the contribution of mining and energy towards the growth of our economy and to accelerate the development of our country," he stated.
Ghana is one of the largest gold producer in Africa.
According to Adam, the government considers mining, a competitive industry heavily dependent on power as a major stakeholder in the energy sector.
"Mining is particularly important to the Ministry of Energy because it is one of the major users of energy," Adam stated.
The deputy minister announced that the energy ministry had been in talks with natural gas producers to help drive down the price of gas, which will enable power to be produced at a lower cost and consequently lower energy tariffs.
The 2019 forum is under the theme of "Harnessing Mining and Energy to Accelerate National Development."
The power crisis in Ghana between 2013 and 2015 had caused some mining companies to reduce their investments in the West African country.
