An awareness workshop organised by REPAR took place yesterday May 28, 2015 at the National Assembly.

The mining sector in Cameroon seen as an important cornerstone of the country’s emergence yesterday May 28, 2015 came under focus at the National Assembly as Members of Parliament (MPs), traditional rulers and civil society actors gathered to be edified on the existing challenges inherent in the proposed mining code.

The workshop organised by the Parliamentary Network for the Sustainable Management of Forest Ecosystems in Central Africa (REPAR) was aimed at strengthening the capacities of parliamentarians on mining and environmental issues as well as increase their ability to adopt a mining code that takes into account principles of sustainable mining development.

While opening the workshop, the National Coordinator of REPAR, Hon. Jean-Jacques Zam underscored the importance of the sensitisation workshop on the proposed mining code which he said was to better prepare MPs for pertinent contributions and subsequent adoption of the bill regulating the sector when it will be presented to parliament.

The development of minerals such as diamond, gold, iron, bauxite and nickel amongst others located mostly in the forest ecosystems of the Cameroon, may contribute to economic development. It is based on this, that the government deemed it necessary to invest in the sector by engaging in a series of mining reforms to create a favourable investment conditions to boost the sector. The proposed mining code aims not only at attracting foreign investors but also increase transparency, accountability, corporate responsibility as well as striking a balance between development and the trade-offs of conservation.