“Mining (mineral extraction) in Ghana has a long history and that history is a love-hate one. Mining has been regarded with suspicion and has been attacked for several reasons, chief among which is the often leveled charge that the adverse environmental and social effects of mining are hardly ever addressed and that mining activity has detrimental consequences on the health, lives and livelihood of mining communities. Another accusation is that mining has not made a positive impact on the economic fortunes of Ghana because fiscal terms are all too often poorly or improperly defined. The third charge is that transactions, contracts and decisions about mining undertakings are not transparent, with limited or no public oversight. Given the problems which have beset Ghana’s foremost income generating activity and the different dimensions and expectations that the discovery and exploitation of oil and gas presents, it is imperative that appropriate provisions are incorporated into the Constitution to remedy the problems.”
