Parliament has unanimously ratified the mining lease granted by the government to the Ghana Bauxite Company to mine bauxite at Awaso in the Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai Municipality of the Western North Region. 
This was after a joint Parliamentary Committee of Mines and Energy and Lands and Forestry presented its report to the House on Wednesday, June 26, 2024.
The Awaso bauxite mine forms an integral part of the government’s policy to build an integrated aluminium industry in Ghana.
The Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC), which was established to promote and develop an integrated aluminium industry in the country, has identified this mine as one of its four projects to build an integrated industry.
As part of its strategy, GIADEC is working with strategic investors to expand the mine and build a refinery solution to refine bauxite mined in the area. Currently, the Ghana Bauxite Company, which has been in existence for over 80 years, is the only bauxite-producing company in Ghana.
Earlier this month, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, MP, laid the mining lease in Parliament for ratification. 
Presenting the report of the Joint Committee to Parliament, the Chairman of the Mines and Energy Committee, Hon. Samuel Atta Akyea, said the request by the Minister for the mining lease to be ratified is in accord with the constitutional provision, which ensures parliamentary oversight over the management and utilization of the natural resources of the country.
He said the Committee was also satisfied that the company has the financial and technical capacity to execute its obligations under the lease and, therefore, recommends the lease for ratification.

Members of the House praised the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources for bringing the lease to the House for ratification. They expressed optimism that these measures will benefit Ghanaians.

On his part, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, thanked the House and the members of the joint committee for their diligence and for unanimously supporting the motion for the ratification of the mining lease. He said the government was fully committed to indigenizing the mining industry and is working with all stakeholders to ensure that Ghanaians participate fully across the full value chain of the mining industry. 

The ratification of the mining lease grants the company full rights to operate the mine, secure the employment of the hundreds of people who depend on the mine and contribute to the socio-economic development of the community and the country at large.