Abesim, Bono Region, Ghana – Newmont Africa has reassured its commitment to building the capacity of local businesses in the communities in which it operates in Ghana.
This, the mining giant believed would enable it to create employment opportunities in its host communities which would lead to the socioeconomic development of the country.
The Manager of Communications and External Relations of Newmont Africa’s Ahafo South and North Mines, Samuel Osei, gave the assurance at a media workshop organised by the company at Abesim near Sunyani in the Bono Region of Ghana.
The company he noted recognised the importance of supporting local economies and believed that investing in local businesses could contribute to sustainable development and create long-term value for the company and the communities.
According to Mr Osei, this could be achieved through the implementation of programmes such as the Enhanced Local Procurement Programme (ELPP) and other local content opportunities being championed by Newmont Africa.
He was quick to add the Ahafo North project which to commence full-scale commercial gold production soon was expected to generate about 1,800 jobs during the construction phase and 550 direct jobs during its operation.
Mr Osei said as part of an employment agreement signed between the company and its host communities, Newmont had committed to gradually recruit up to 53 per cent of its workforce from the immediate host communities.
The project’s immediate five host communities are- Yamfo, Adrobaa, Techire, Susuanso and Afrisipakrom, all in the Tano North Municipality of the Ahafo Region.
Mr Osei was confident that the Ahafo North Project which is Newmont Africa’s third-largest mine project in Ghana would also contribute to the country’s revenue generation through taxes, royalties, fees, and community development.
Additionally, the project had established various skills development opportunities for locals, including construction workers’ training, apprenticeships, soft skills training, and curriculum vitae training, he stated.
These initiatives, he listed, were aimed at equipping individuals with employable skills and increasing their chances of securing job opportunities within and outside of Newmont.
Mr Osei therefore urged residents of the host communities and other stakeholders to cooperate with the company to ensure the success of the Ahafo North Project.
On his part, the Director of Newmont Africa’s Ahafo North Project, Andries Havenga, used the occasion to express the company’s commitment to building relationships based on mutual respect and trust.
This he noted would contribute their quota to the social and economic development, improving living standards, and reaping long-term benefits.
Mr Havenga reiterated that Newmont’s ability to effectively manage social, environmental, and political risks directly impacts its reputation, value creation and peaceful coexistence with communities and other stakeholders.
He indicated that the company’s understanding of mining as a long-term business required commitments and investments spanning decades.
The Director of Communications and External Relations of Newmont Africa, David Johnson said that Newmont’s capital investment in the Ahafo North Project had increased from $800 million to about $1.2 billion.
According to him, the company had to deal with land access and compensation issues, highway diversion, management of unauthorised structures, and resettlement negotiations, among other activities that initially delayed the project, but its potential was too great.
The workshop was attended by journalists from the private and state media based in the Ahafo and Bono regions to update them on the company’s Ahafo North Project focusing among others on information regarding the project’s status and collaboration of stakeholders.
