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Speech Delivered by Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Shamima Muslim
Chief of Staff Dr. Julius Debrah has called for a trust-based Mining Catchment Compact to ensure Ghana’s gold wealth benefits the communities that host mining operations. Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Shamima Muslim delivered his speech at the 2026 National Mining Dialogue on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, at the Kempinski Gold Coast Hotel in Accra.
The theme was “Mining, Local Content and the Catchment Compact: Rethinking the Social Licence to Operate.” Dr. Debrah conveyed warm regards from President John Dramani Mahama, whose conviction is that Ghana’s natural wealth must improve the lives of Ghanaians.
Local Content Is a Legal Obligation Not Charity
Dr. Debrah stated clearly that a social licence to operate is not issued once in Accra and kept forever. It is granted by communities whose land, water, homes, and livelihoods carry the industry’s footprint. Furthermore, he said trust grows only when benefits are visible and verifiable — through local jobs, contracts for Ghanaian businesses, fair compensation, and protected land and water.
He stressed that local content is a legal and economic obligation, not an act of charity. Therefore, CSR initiatives such as clinics, scholarships, and roads cannot replace compliance with local content and local participation requirements.
Formalising Small-Scale Mining Must Be a Bridge Not a Wall
Dr. Debrah expressed government’s support for the Ghana Gold Board’s work to strengthen traceability and create a regulated, transparent framework for artisanal and small-scale gold. He said this will protect the integrity of Ghana’s gold supply chain and help the country retain more value. However, he cautioned that formalisation must not become a barrier against hardworking Ghanaians whose families depend on mining.
Instead, it should serve as a bridge from vulnerability to security, from opaque markets to fair markets, and from unsafe practices to responsible livelihoods. He added that the artisanal miner should hear reform as an invitation to operate safely, lawfully, and profitably.
Shamima Muslim Delivers Catchment Compact Call on Behalf of Dr. Debrah
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Shamima Muslim delivered Dr. Debrah’s full call for accountability at the National Mining Dialogue 2026. On his behalf, she outlined the duties of every party under the proposed Catchment Compact.
Government must provide clear rules and fair enforcement. Operators must honour the law and their commitments. Moreover, traditional and local leaders must steward community benefits transparently, while civil society and the media must continue asking hard questions.
She welcomed the proposed Conference Communique and Catchment Charter, urging that commitments be realistic, measurable, time-bound, and public so that trust can be rebuilt between mining companies and host communities.