Upper East residents must benefit from region’s mining resources — Paul Afoko
Paul Afoko advocates greater local ownership in mining, saying the Upper East Region's mineral wealth should directly benefit residents and accelerate development.
A New Patriotic Party (NPP) National Chairman hopeful, Paul Afoko, has called for greater indigenous ownership and participation in the mining sector in the Upper East Region, arguing that the region’s vast mineral resources should primarily benefit its people and drive local development.
According to Afoko, ensuring greater local ownership in mining operations would help retain wealth within the region instead of allowing foreign companies to extract resources while local communities receive limited benefits through royalties.
He made the remarks on the sidelines of the opening day of the three-day Upper East Regional Development Forum under the Prosperity through Enterprise, Agriculture Resilience and Livelihoods (PEARL) Framework initiative, held at the Desert Pastures Auditorium in Bolgatanga on Monday, June 29.
Afoko said the Upper East Region has an opportunity to set an example for the rest of the country by adopting a model of natural resource management that places the interests of local communities at the centre of mining development.
“We must ensure that our people benefit from it. We do not want to follow the path of other mining regions where gold, diamonds and other minerals have been extracted for decades, yet the level of development does not reflect the wealth generated from those resources,” he said.
He noted that several cities across Africa have experienced significant economic transformation by effectively harnessing their natural resources and ensuring that the benefits accrue to their citizens.
“We must negotiate contracts that favour us when granting concessions to foreign investors. After all, the gold belongs to us. We cannot simply allow others to come and take away our natural resources without ensuring that our people benefit meaningfully,” he added.
On infrastructure development, Afoko reiterated the need for an airport in the Upper East Region, describing it as critical to unlocking the region’s economic potential, improving transportation and attracting investment.
“The need for an airport is undeniable at this critical stage of the region’s development. Its establishment will unlock immense opportunities for trade, investment and tourism,” he said.
Afoko also appealed to political leaders to put aside partisan interests and work collectively towards the development of the Upper East Region.
“We should move beyond whether we are NPP or NDC and focus on development. Our priority must be the progress and prosperity of our region,” he stressed.
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