Accra, Ghana, June 2, 2018//-The Ghana Chamber of Mines has appointed Managing Director of AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi, Eric Asubonteng; Senior Vice President of Gold Fields, Alfred Baku; and Vice-President and General Manager of the Chirano Gold Mines Limited, Adriano Sobreira as its new president, 1st vice president and 2nd vice president respectively.
They officially became the new leaders of the institution after a short handing over ceremony at the Ghana Chamber of Mines’ 90th Annual General Meeting held in Accra on Friday, June 1, 2018.
The new executives were elected to steer the affairs of the chamber for the next two years. They would be supported by the Chief Executive Officer of the chamber, Sulemanu Koney and staff at the chamber’s secretariat.
Mr Asubonteng succeeded the immediate past president, Kwame Addo-Kufuor.
Before handing over to his successor, Mr Addo-Kufuor, said that; “the Ghana Chamber of Mines has a lot to be proud of in its 90-year lifetime. Being one of the oldest on the continent, the chamber has played a leading role and been a pacesetter for several other chambers in Africa”.
“Its modus operandi has been the blueprint for many other mining jurisdictions. The contributions of member companies have helped to stabilise national economies and contributed significantly to the GDP of most minerals-rich nations”, he added.
“In our own country, the impact of gold revenue on the national budget is not in contention”.
The business, Mr Addo-Kufuor noted had changed from what it was 90 years ago, stressing: “Transparency, innovation, and responsible mining are now phrases that characterise our operations”.
“So at 90 years, we need to do more talk about what we do, but we also need to listen more. Listen to the call for more beneficiation, for more gender equality, for more environmental responsibility, and for more integration of our activities into the local and national structures”.
In his acceptance speech, the new president of chamber, Mr Asubonteng assured that new executives would work hard to propel the growth and development of the chamber and its producing members.
As he put it: “The remains more to be done, as we continue to explore how best we can strengthen our partnerships with our host government and stakeholders in promoting an industry that benefits all stakeholders in a balanced and sustainable manner”.
Mr Asubonteng stated that; “it is for this reason that I accept this position with all humility to continue on the trajectory of progressing the industry after nine decades”.
By Masahudu Ankiilu Kunateh, African Eye Report
