Opening the summit, Deputy Minister for Lands and NaturalResources, Barbara Oteng-Gyasi noted that this is one of thereasons the region had become the hub of mining investments andactivities on the African continent.
"The region provides massive opportunities in terms ofaccessibility and availability of mineral resources on the Africancontinent. The mineral producing countries in this region containsome of the world's largest untapped high-grade mineral deposits,"she insisted, explaining that this is the reason behind the"phenomenon rush of mining interests in the region."
The deputy minister therefore called for brainstorming toidentify how African mineral producing countries could leveragetheir mineral resources for optimal socio-economic growth anddevelopment of the African continent.
According to Oteng-Gyasi Adidas Superstar Rosa Saldi , Ghana was taking steps to optimizeopportunities in the mining sector through the provision oflong-term inexpensive power supply; reducing Value Added Tax (VAT)on exploration activities; Development of railway infrastructure tohelp transportation of bauxite and manganese to ports as well asencouraging the development of shared infrastructure to integratemining with community development.
In addition, she said the government was promotingvalue-addition through the processing of minerals; and theenactment of consolidated Mineral Revenue Management Law, similarto the Petroleum Revenue Management Act (PRMA) to guide the use ofmineral revenue in strategic sectors of the economy.
The two-day summit and expo organized by Magenta Global, amining industry match-maker has participants and exhibitors fromGhana, Benin Adidas Superstar Rosse Saldi , Burkina Faso, and Senegal among other Africancountries and others from Europe and the Americas.
As the mining industry seems to be emerging from its mostturbulent periods in recent history, Maggie Tan, Chief ExecutiveOfficer (CEO) of Magenta Global pte, noted that the West andCentral African region is back in the spotlight.
"It is one of the world's fastest growing regions for gold andmineral production. There are extensive opportunities for growthgiven the region's massive geological base Adidas Superstar Donne Saldi ," she observed.
The WaCA mining summit and exhibition is designed as animportant productive networking platform for the global miningoperators, exploration companies and service providers to getfirst-hand understanding of the mining potentials and challenges inthe region.
"To ensure the economy (of Ghana) does not suffer undue setbacksas a result of weak gold prices as we are currently experiencinggovernment's policy is to diversify its minerals production base,"Addae Antwi-Boasiako, CEO of the country's Minerals Commission,announced in his remarks.
One of the ways this is being done was the development of astrategic Anchor industry with a robust integrated bauxite andaluminum industry Adidas Superstar Uomo Saldi , iron and steel industry and renewable solar saltproduction architecture, according to the CEO.
The mining sector accounted for 14.4 percent of total governmentof Ghana revenue and 34 percent of total merchandise export in2016, with 3.6 million ounces of gold production valued at 3.3billion U.S. Dollars. Enditem
Coup leader Voreqe Bainimarama was poised on Thursday to become Fiji's first elected leader in eight years as provisional results gave him a commanding lead after historic elections.
But despite the country returning to democracy, the military maintain a strong presence and opposition parties cancelled an election review planned during the day after soldiers turned up.
With 70 percent of the vote counted following Wednesday's poll, Bainimarama's Fiji First Party had 60.1 percent Adidas Superstar Blu Saldi , well clear of its nearest rival, the Social Democratic Liberal Party (Sodelpa) on 26.7.
Although Bainimarama has been accused of human rights abuses and the country subjected to international sanctions after he seized control in a 2006 coup, Brij Lal, a Fiji political analyst based at the Australian National University, said the result was no surprise.
"He had all the advantages of incumbency Adidas Superstar Argento Saldi , name recognition, a public profile, media on his side, campaigning on the public purse, and a desire on the part of the voters for stability Adidas Superstar Oro Saldi , which he promised," Lal told AFP.
Bainimarama had repeatedly delayed a return to democracy while he reworked Fiji's constitution, developed the economy and, as an indigenous Fijian he made himself popular with the Indian minority by focussing on easing ethnic tensions.
Sodelpa and other opposition parties were to have met Thursday at a Suva hotel to discuss their response to Fiji First's overwhelming lead.
"This meeting cannot go ahead because there are two military personnel in the hotel Adidas Superstar Pride Pack Saldi ," prominent Fiji political analyst Wadan Narsey told reporters.
Fiji's military commander Brigadier-General Mosese Tikoitoga said before the election the armed forces would be on standby until a new government is sworn in to ensure "the security, defence and well-being" of the Pacific island nation.
There has been no word from Bainimarama since voting began and the Fiji Sun, regarded as a mouthpiece of the outgoing military regime, said he was "happy with the general elections results coming in. But he was waiting for the final results before commenting further."
Complete results are not expected until the weekend, but the early results indicated Bainimarama's Fiji First would easily rule without the need of coalition support.