Edward Nana Yaw Koranteng – CEO of MIIF The decision of Goldfields Ghana Limited and Anglogold Ashanti to support the Community Mining Project (CMP) initiated by the government has been commended.
The Community Mining Project was initiated by the government to help create opportunities in mining for indigenes in mining communities and to curb the menace of illegal mining commonly known as ‘galamsey.’
Designed to create at least 2 million jobs across the country and to help eliminate the use of mercury in recovering gold, the CMP was first launched at Adomanu in the Ashanti Region.
At its core, CMP is structured to make mining communities own concessions for use by the indigenes.
“We support the Community Mining Project,” senior executives of Anglogold Ashanti Iduapriem and Goldfields Ghana Tarkwa told the Chief Executive of MIIF at separate high-level discussions with the Fund.
This followed courtesy calls by the MIIF CEO and senior executives of the Fund to both mines.
“At Goldfields, we are supporting by giving some communities some of the older pits where we mined so they can continue mining in a more structured way. Where it is practicable, we have released land in some areas,” the General Manager of the Tarkwa mine, Mr Stephen Adu Baah said.
“Although several communities are advocating the release of parts of their lands back to them which in a sense could be problematic as it could lead to a floodgate of unfettered community demands,” Mr Adu Baah said that each request has to be considered and handled carefully, uniquely, and taking into consideration the strategic objectives of Goldfields and its ability to continue to attract the right kind of investment into its activities.
The Managing Director of Anglogold Ashanti, operators of the Iduapriem Mine, Samuel Boakye Pobee on his part said, “We have a remarkable community approach and support whatever they community wants to do. This is crucial because we need the community members to do well in this mining venture as this stems the dangerous tide of encroachment and community friction. The CEO of MIIF Edward Nana Yaw Koranteng commended both companies for being prompt on their Royalty payments to the state and expressed appreciation for the support for the community mining Project.
“The support from both Goldfields and Anglogold Ashanti, two of the biggest multinational mining firms in the country for such an indigenous mining programme is remarkable”.
He added that, MIIF has plans to incorporate the community […]
