‘A great and really enjoyable day of trading,’ tweets WAMPEX 2016 while conference delegates consider increased local content and sustainability for the future of mining and power in Africa

Exhibitors reported a positive first day for WAMPEX 2016, which was formally opened by Ghana’s Deputy Minister for Lands & Natural Resources Hon Kwabena Mintah Akandoh and Kwame Addo-Kuffuor, the President of Ghana Chamber of Mines.

“A great and really enjoyable day of trading,” was how exhibitor The Steel Ball Company described its first day of the West Africa Mining and Power Exhibition 2016. The team at the All Steels Trading and The Steel Ball Company, which makes grinding balls for the mining industry, was in Ghana for the first time from the UK. It was also the first day of the West African Mining & Power Conference 2016, which attracted more than 100 delegates.

After the keynote address from Hon Akandoh, the first day saw a key focus on local content in extraction during mining. "Mining remains a vital sector now and in the future" Addo-Kufour, told the WAMPOC 2016 conference.
In an addition to the programme, Alwyn Pretorius, of Newmont Mining, which promotes sustainable and responsible mining, presented the company's strategy for sustainable future.

The day’s session ended with a cocktail reception allowing delegates to meet, network and reflect on a successful first day. Today the conference begins at 9am in the Accra International Conference Centre which will begin with the inauguration of the Federation of ECOWAS XChambers of Mines. The first session is Distributed Power Generation: Opportunities for the Mining Sector with Dr N.D.K Asante - Energy Commission That’s followed by a session titled ‘The Ghana Power Compact: Powering Ghana for Accelerated and Sustainable Economic Growth’, presented by Owura Kwaku Sarfo, Chief Executive Officer of Millennium Development Authority.

Christine Davidson, Vice President of dmg-ems Africa, co-organiser of WAMPEX, said: “We are pleased with attendance for day one and it is good to see that networking, discussion and knowledge sharing remains most important particularly in a challenging market. It is clear from delegates, visitors and exhibitors, there is a positive view for the future and WAMPEX and WAMPOC this year have attracted key personnel in the drive for growth and financial security.”

Visitors across both WAMPEX and WAMPOC spoke positively of the first day of the three-day event.

“It’s been very well organised and I’m very impressed with the conference, it’s is very good, participation is excellent,” said Ms Joyce Aree, Ghana Chamber of Commerce, who is Ghana’s former Minister of Mines.

“This event is excellent for the mining and power sector - exhibitions like this will definitely help boost the local economy,” Mr Haruna, visitor at WAMPEX
Full details of the conference and exhibitors can be found at www.wampexghana.com