The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel A. Jinapor, has disclosed that government, right from the onset, recognized that for Ghana to enjoy maximum benefit from its natural resources, there must be a paradigm shift from the archetypal method of exploiting resources to a modernized and value-addition-based harnessing of the resources. Mr Jinapor said that Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has been at the forefront of the initiative, with his commitment, expertise, and knowledge proving crucial in the implementation of various policies aimed at enhancing the exploitation of resources in the country. "The Vice President has been at the forefront of policies aimed at ensuring optimal benefits from our mineral resources and improving the livelihoods of our people, including the digitalization of the National Assay Laboratory, the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme, which has led to a tremendous increment in our gold reserves, and the Gold for Oil Programme, which has contributed over thirty percent (30%) of our total crude consumption. "The reconstruction of the Appiatse community, which was razed down some two years ago, and the ongoing efforts at digitalizing the records of the Lands Commission to make it fit for purpose are also some of the remarkable interventions of the Vice President in the Lands and Natural Resources sector," he said. The Minister stated that the establishment of the Royal Gold Refinery is a feather in the cap of the government pursuant to its bid to ensure that Ghana rakes in the maximum benefits from its resources and also becomes the hub of mineral refinery in the sub-region. "And this afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen, he (Dr.