Bio
Ekow has over fifteen years progressive working experience in the extractive sector in various capacities as a consultant and engineer across West Africa specifically in Liberia, Burkina Faso, South Africa, Niger and Ghana. He has been involved mainly in mining operations from greenfield to brownfield operations, training and capacity building, advocacy and sector regulation in both Large-scale and small-scale mining operations.
As an advocate for responsible and sustainable mining practices, he has been involved in the training of Artisanal and Small-scale miners in both exploitation of minerals and mineral extraction processes over the years in the ASM sector. He has extensive knowledge of ASM stakeholder mapping and consultation championing the formalization of the sector through training and capacity building of miners and other key stakeholders.
He worked as a mining specialist for GLRSSMP, a World Bank funded project which looks at the gaps in legal, regulatory and policy framework of the mining sector, provision of access to mineable lands, ASM license regime and reduction in the turnaround time for the acquisition of license, reduction of mercury in gold processing, alternative livelihood programs and traceability and value addition of gold production. As a mining specialist (consultant) for GLRSSMP, He provided technical planning and administration of the project, and coordination with the technical Implementing Agencies. He also develops implementation strategies to promote and support sustainable mining and mercury free minerals processing techniques practices.
His exposure on the realities of the mining sector particularly in ASM where there is huge disconnect between government policies and the realities on the ground and as well as the poverty and livelihood issues facing mining communities has necessitated my quest to connect policy, plans and projects of governments to proper research. The design of these government policies, plans and projects should be anchored on proper research to have a measurable impact on the people. Ekow is currently a PhD researcher at the university of Surrey Business school, UK and a mining consultant.
