The technology will help in improving the operations of mining companies and in promoting sustainable development for host community and the country at large.

Mr Kwaku Asoma-Cheremeh, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, made the call at the 91st Annual General Meeting of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, which was held on the theme: "Harnessing the Potential of Mining to Accelerate National Development."

He said the theme reiterated government's strategy to sustainably tap all the value inherent in the extractives sector to the benefit of all Ghanaians.

He said the mining industry in Ghana had continuously contributed immensely to government's revenue generation through the payment of mineral royalties, corporate income tax and employee income tax.

Mr Asoma-Cheremeh said the constitution of the Minerals Development Fund (MDF) Board towards operationalising of the MDF Act gave hope to the government that the local development schemes of the mines in the host mining communities would collaborate with the MDF Secretariat to improve transparency.

He said the effective implementation of the MDF Act, 2016 (Act 912) would reduce the acrimony between mining companies and host communities as well as pubic suspicion that the mining companies were milking the nation.

On his part, Mr Sulemanu Koney, the Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber, said the exceptional geological heritage that the country boasts of was indicative of the opportunities available for the industry players to build a progressive industry and serve as a catalyst for the development of Ghana.

He said in the quest to improve the business climate in the mining industry, the Chamber continued to engage stakeholders on various platforms such as the maiden interaction with the Economic Management Team headed by the Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia as well as an interaction with the Board of Minerals Commission.

Mr Koney said to be viable and responsible member companies would continue to adopt relevant technologies and innovations that did not only enhance productivity and competitiveness but mitigate the impact of the operations of the environment.

Mr Eric Asubonteng, the President of the Chamber, said that mining companies continue to put up their best in order to maintain a steady contribution through foreign investment into the industry.

He commended President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo and the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II for ensuring the reopening of AngloGold Ashanti's Obuasi Mine.

He urged government to consider increasing the share of mineral revenue that goes to the MDF to 30 per cent to substantially impact the development of the host communities.

Mr Asubonteng said there was an improvement in mining and quarrying activities, which cushioned the negative and cumulative impact of the banking sector reforms on the economy in 2018.

He said: "The mining and quarrying sub-sector's (excluding oil and gas) share the Gross Domestic Product increased from 7.3 per cent in 2017 to 9.8 per cent in 2018 making it the fourth largest economic activity by value today".