Ghana’s decision to mortgage bauxite deposits in Atiwa forest draws criticism

Ghana is mulling mortgaging the bauxite deposits in the Atiwa forest and Nyinahin to China for some US$15 billion. The country which stands a good chance to prosper leveraging its rich mineral resources has found in world environmentalists and other industry experts staunch critics of the decision. They say, by doing this Ghana would be losing out on many other benefits that it has been   deriving from the forest belt for years.

However, sustainable bauxite mining keeping other forest areas untouched is likely to rake in more benefits to a country looking to boost its economy badly.

A few days back Ghana’s senior Minister went on record to say in an interview with the BBC that mortgaging Atiwa forest’s bauxite deposits can create more than 100,000 jobs for the unemployed youth of the country.

Further, bauxite export prospects will grow bringing in increased revenues for the overall improvement of the economy.

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It has always been a difficult trade-off for bauxite industry stakeholders whether or not to exploit the mineral deposits in a geographic region that is rich in biodiversity. However, if sustainability is prioritized then industrial development does spell boon for a region.

The Senior Minister in an attempt to justify the need to mortgage also said that the bauxite can be exploited without destroying the Birim River because of the location of the bauxite deposit.