With the rising concern about scrap theft, like cable, the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC), an agency under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, with the sector Minister, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, is looking to develop a legislative policy framework. With this framework, the agency is looking forward to regulating the downstream aluminium sector in Ghana.
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The need for this regulation rose from the ongoing aluminium product and cable thefts in Ghana, which have recently been exposed by the Electricity Company of Ghana. This has created a critical vulnerability within Ghana's industrial landscape. Due to this, Ghana is not only facing economic losses in terms of businesses and state entities but also creating disruption within essential infrastructures, undermining public safety.
Moreover, the stolen materials are further used in the unregulated aluminium smelters, which further spurs the need for applying strict regulations within Ghana's downstream aluminium sector. Owing to this, GIADEC's legal framework shall aid in improving Ghana's economic stability, sustainable development and enhanced national security.
In order to impose the legislative policy framework, the agency has developed a multi-prolonged approach. This approach includes identification, registration and certification of all the downstream players present within Ghana. Additionally, it is mandatory to provide a certificate of origin for aluminium imports and exports, aiding in maintaining transparency and making it harder to source aluminium illegally.
There are other benefits that the legislative policy framework provides to Ghana's downstream aluminium industry, likely:
- Improved product quality with enhanced environmental practices and safety standards
- Aligning with the global trends by maintaining responsible resource management and long-term viability
- Socio-economic empowerment by providing youth entrepreneurship training programs
- Focuses on responsible sourcing, empowering domestic aluminium products and small-scale traditional smelting of cans
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