The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel A. Jinapor, has charged Emmaland Resources Limited, a mining company responsible for the exploitation of iron ore to ensure the full value chain of minerals exploitation for the development of the country.

He said this during a meeting with a team from the company on Monday on the sidelines of his one-day tour of the Northern Region.

The Minister asked that they ensure the whole process of exploitation be done in Ghana from start to finish, to create job opportunities for the youth of Yendi, the Northen Region and Ghana as whole.

He stressed “Whatever you put in place for the exploitation of this resources, iron ore, it must be integrated. And by integration we all appreciate that it must be that the mining takes place here in Ghana, the refinery must take place in Ghana, all the processes must be here in Ghana.”

He added “the cause of action which will serve our national interest is the one which gives birth to an integrated industry which will retain the full value chain here in Ghana which is what will create the jobs and bring about economic improvements in the country in general and Northen Region in particular”

The Minister also disclosed that he will very soon engage GIISDEC on the road map for exploitation, to follow through and monitor the work being done.

He reiterated government’s firm stance on having an integrated iron and steel industry that will holistically involve and develop Ghana.

He said “key and central to the whole equation the President has given us for the exploitation of the mineral resources of our country particularly as they relate to bauxite and iron ore is the component of integration”

On her part, the company’s geologist, Madam Abigail Adjei, thanked the Minister for taking time to meet them and assured him that they will work in collaboration with GIISDEC to ensure that they deliver on the mandate given them.

Emmaland Resources is a mining company responsible for the Sheini Hills Iron Project in Northern Region of Ghana. This project is a large-scale greenfields iron ore project with multi-billion tonne potential.

Meanwhile, the  Minister as part of his engagement with the company also made a whistle stop at the newly established GIISDEC office at Yendi for a quick tour of the facility and also to ascertain their level of operations since it’s establishment.