The Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Chamber of Mines, Dr Sulemanu Koney has urged the newly created Ahafo Region to position itself as a mining hub of Ghana.
According to him, with the operations of Newmont Gold Ghana Limited in the region, it is possible for the region to achieve this feat.
Mr Koney gave the encouragement when he paid a courtesy call on the Regional Minister, George Boakye in his office at Goaso, as part of his two-day working visit to the region.
In his words, “We are happy at the manner in which the matter has been resolved. This underscores the healthy relationship Newmont will have with your administration.
Newmont is essentially going to be around God knows how many years. So, it is important for Newmont to ensure that it has a harmonious relationship with the communities”.
Newmont Gold Ghana which operates the Newmont Ahafo South Mine and the upcoming Ahafo North Mine project which has been suspended due to speculative activities, among others could transform the region if the project comes on stream, Dr Koney told the minister.
“It is our expectation that we will be able to position ourselves as a mining hub as a region to be considered as a hub as well. We have Newmont Ahafo South and potentially, we will have Newmont Ahafo North project too and these are very big projects”.
Mining provides an opportunity for deep integration of the host communities with the mine. How do we do it so that we can benefit optimally from the mine, he asked.
It is about how we position ourselves to take advantage of the mine. Often, we hear the comparisms that why Obuasi, Tarkwa and other mining cities are not looking like Johannesburg of South Africa. But missing link, according to the Chamber CEO is planning.
Mr Koney has therefore entreated the mining communities and cities especially those in the Newmont Ahafo North project to start engaging the company to ensure that they benefit optimally from the upcoming gold resource.
Speaking at his first port of call at the regional minister’s office, he noted that mining companies consume a lot of basic inputs including food. As this region being one of the food baskets of the country would also transform agriculture with the production of the two projects.
On his part, the Ahafo Regional Minister George Boakye said the setting up of an Inter-Agency Committee is leading to removal of 8,000 speculative unauthorised structures on the Newmont Ahafo North Mining project to ensure the start of the project.
He added that he persuaded the mining giant to pay relief support to the individuals who owned the unauthorised structures to promote community peace and security of the Ahafo North Project.
Mr Boakye cautioned that they would not tolerate any further development of unauthorised structures which adversely affects company-community relations and discourages mining investment in the country.
Dr Koney was accompanied by a six-member delegation and some of members of the Journalists for Business Advocacy (JBA), was in the region to acquaint himself with the operations of the mining company.
He also inspected an ongoing road construction project between Kenyasi-Hwidiem in the Asutifi North District. The 8.2-kilometre road project is being fully funded by Newmont at the cost of GHS71 million in its operational area.
Dr Koney said the project when completed would not only open the area, but also strengthen the relations between the company and the people.
He added that it would facilitate the smooth movement of goods and people, thereby boosting economic and trade activities in that part of the region.
The Communications and External Affairs Manager of Newmont Ahafo North and South mines, Samuel Osei, who conducted the Mr Koney and his team on the road project, said the road would be asphalted and also used the opportunity to assure the residents of the region that the company is committed at addressing their development challenges.
More detailed articles on his visit will be published in the coming days.
By Masahudu Ankiilu Kunateh, African Eye Report, back from Ahafo Region, Ghana
