Ghana’s Minerals Commission is working on new rules that could change how contract mining companies operate in the country, particularly around wages and the prices submitted for mining projects.
The Commission says it is preparing minimum wage and tender benchmarks to prevent contractors from deliberately quoting extremely low prices simply to win mining contracts. The move is also aimed at protecting workers from poor pay and unsafe working conditions.
The initiative comes as Ghana pushes for greater local participation in the mining industry. Under the country’s current policy, surface mining operations are expected to use Ghanaian-owned contractors, while underground mining operations must involve companies with significant Ghanaian ownership.
Officials say the concern is that aggressive underbidding can eventually affect workers, safety standards and the quality of mining operations. The proposed wage floors and tender thresholds are therefore expected to create a more level playing field for companies operating in the sector.
The Minerals Commission’s Director of Local Content, Ben Birch-Mensah, explained that the government wants to ensure that local participation in mining does not come at the expense of decent working conditions.
However, the Ghana Chamber of Mines has previously raised concerns about making contract mining compulsory, although it supports measures that can prevent harmful underpricing in the industry.
Source: GhanaNsem
