85% of Obuasi Mine Redevelopment Project Spend Goes to Local Businesses

Flash back: Eric Asubonteng, Managing Director of AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine receiving the Best Performer in Corporate Social Investment 2019 award from Prof Jerry S.Y. Kuma, chairman of the awards committee

Accra, Ghana, December 26, 2019//-AngloGold Ashanti (AGA), a leading global gold mining company that operates the Obuasi and Iduapriem mines located in the Ashanti and Western regions of Ghana respectively, revealed that 85% of its Obuasi Mine Redevelopment Project spend goes to Ghanaian businesses.

The 85% spend which worth millions of dollars in monetary terms had been paid to local and national companies since the commencement of the project in early this year.

The Senior Manager In-charge of Sustainability of AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine, Emmanuel Baidoo made this known at the just-ended 2019 West Africa institute of mining, metallurgy and petroleum conference held in Accra.

Speaking on the topic: ‘AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine’s Corporate Social Investment and Community Engagement, Mr Baidoo was emphatic the project had been successful and impactful on the lives of the people.

Giving the breaking down, he said that Obuasi Mine proudly employs 58% of new hires from host communities, while 63% of contractor employees are from the same host communities.

Mr Baidoo added that the company also enrolled 46 youth in apprenticeship programme, stressing that the company’s graduate traineeship was being piloted.

Obuasi sustainability strategy according to him is “contributing to building resilient communities … to maintain our Social Licence to Operate”

“We are going beyond compliance to legislation…..to ensure we create and retain value in Ghana over the long term”, Mr Baidoo told the participants at the conference.

“To change the way people experience the company, through positive engagement and development for mutual benefit, across all stages of the mine life cycle.

We focus on the wellbeing and development of employees, building a resilient company and contributing to the development of economically, socially and physically resilient host communities and environments”, he quoted the AngloGold Ashanti Group Sustainability Vision.

The project has placed a premium on local content, with 80% of the capital thus far spent incountry, according to the Managing Director of the Obuasi Mine, Eric Asubonteng.

Ghanaian companies have been given preference in the procurement of goods and services, from the large-value underground mining contract all the way to catering and security contracts.

Employment has also prioritised Ghanaians from the immediate area around the mine wherever possible, with Ghanaians from elsewhere in the country next in line for recruitment in available roles.

On 19th December 2019, AngloGold Ashanti Ghana Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of AngloGold Ashanti, announced that it had achieved its first pour of gold from the Obuasi Gold Mine.

This signals the successful redevelopment of the mine into a modern, mechanized mining operation since mining activities were suspended five years ago, according to a press release issued by the company.

African Eye Report  

 

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