UG Faculty Of Law And UWA Law School Partner On Short Course In Mining

 A cross section of participants at the first session of the course

The Faculty of Law and the University of Western Australia (UWA) Law School, with support from the Australian government have developed a mining law policy course titled “An Introduction to Mining Law and Policy for Sustainable Development”.

The short course which is being run by the University of Ghana Faculty of Law is aimed at providing a good overall introduction to the various aspects that determine how mining operates in Ghana. The course draws on Australia’s reputation as a leading nation for mining innovation and legal expertise and incorporates the University of Ghana’s reputation for academic excellence.

According to the Dean of Faculty of Law, Prof. Edward Kofi Quashigah, the course was an initiative of the Honourable Betty Mould Iddrisu (a former Minister of Education) who visited Australia during her tenure in office and established the relationship between the two institutions for a postgraduate programme in mining law and governance.

The first session of the short course took place from April 7-11, 2014 and attracted sixteen (16) participants. They included Chiefs from the Wassa Fiase Traditional Council and the Okyeman Environmental Foundation of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council, Civil Society Organizations (Third world network, WACAM Ghana and ISODEC), Mining industries (Newmont Ghana Limited and Perseus Mining Limited), The Judiciary (Ministry of Justice and Attorney-General’s Department and two nominees of the Judiciary Secretary) and the Ghana Chamber of mines.

Eight (8) faculty members from the University of Ghana Faculty of Law namely Prof. Nii Ashie Kotey, Dr. Samuel Manteaw, Dr. Kweku Ainuson, Dr. Adbul Bassit, Dr. Poku Adusei, Mr Kissi Agyebeng, Mr. Godwin Djokoto and Dr. Peter Atupare as well as one faculty member from the University of Western Australia Prof. Jill Howieson, helped facilitate the sessions.

The Short course was launched at short ceremony in April this year which had the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ernest Aryeetey, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Honourable Alhaji Inusah Fuseini, who is also an alumnus of the Faculty and the Australian High Commissioner, Ms. Joanna Adamson, in attendance.

The next session of the short course is scheduled to take place from July 14-18, 2014.