Promote private sector participation in iron, steel industry — Jinapor

The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr.  Samuel Abu Jinapor, has urged the managers of the Ghana Integrated Iron and Steel Development Corporation (GIISDEC) to put in place structures to promote private sector participation in the iron and steel industry.

He said private sector participation would help to develop the full value chain of the iron and steel industry and enhance the country's industrialisation agenda.

In making that call, the minister indicated that the government alone could not provide the investment required to develop the industry; thus, the urgent need to involve private sector players to realise the dream of an integrated industry.

Working visit

Mr. Jinapor was speaking during a meeting with the board and top management of GIISDEC in Accra yesterday.

The meeting was part of the minister's working visit to the corporation to, among other things, familiarise himself with the operations of the company.

Issues discussed at the meeting ranged from the development of investment plan, partnership with private sector players, to stronger collaboration between the board and the management of GIISDEC to achieve results.

Prioritise GIISDEC

Mr. Jinapor said the iron and steel industry was critical to the government's industrialisation agenda.

He, therefore, urged the management of the corporation to pursue policies to accelerate the development of the industry.

“The effort of the government to develop a robust iron and steel industry is a very ambitious one, and very important too because without it, our industrialisation and job creation agenda will be affected," he said.

Proactive measures

For his part, the Chairman of GIISDEC board, Alhaji Umar-Farouk Aliu-Mahama, said the board was prepared to provide the management with all the needed support to deliver on the mandate of the corporation.

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Yendi said the GIISDEC board would support the management of the corporation to deliver on their mandate.

He called for the support of the minister in implementing the innovative policies to build an integrated iron and steel industry.

The Chief Executive Officer of the corporation, Mr. Kwabena Bonsu Fordwor, expressed his appreciation to the minister for his visit and called for continuous support from the government to enable the corporation to undertake its priority project.

Particularly, he said the GIISDEC was focused on developing a masterplan to estimate mineral resources and determine the geological grade and value of the iron ore.