Mining Review Committee denies involvement in Goldfields Development Agreement ratified by parliament

The Mining Review Committee has stated categorically that it was not involved in the development of positions, nor the conduct of negotiations that produced the Gold Fields Development Agreement ratified by Parliament on March 17, 2016.  

It says negotiations were carried out on its blind side.

In a statement signed by the Chairmen of the Committee, Prof. Akilagpa Sawyerr, said he did not hear about the negotiations till after they had been concluded, even though he was in regular contact with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources. 

He said when he asked for, and was given a copy of the proposed agreement, together with a request from the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources for a review of the documents. 

Prof. Sawyerr said after a hasty review, he sent critical observations to the supervising Ministries, Lands and Finance, and the Minerals Commission on two separate occasions. 

Prof. Akilagpa said in spite of information that his detailed comments had been received and favourably considered at the highest levels of government, the agreement remained essentially unchanged, and were subsequently ratified by Parliament in an expedited process, which dispensed with the Standing Order requirement of a minimum 48-hour period between notice of a motion for ratification and its movement and acceptance, for reasons that are not stated.


GBC