By Anthony Adongo Apubeo
Aburi (E/R), Dec. 12, GNA – The persistent lack of employment opportunities for young people in mining communities remains one of the major triggers of conflict between residents and mining companies across the country.
Mr James Bittah German, Health, Safety and Environment Manager at Golden Star Resources, made the observation at Aburi in the Eastern Region during a three-day workshop on green and responsible mining practices for editors and reporters.
The workshop, organised by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in partnership with the Association of China-Ghana Mining (ACGM) on the theme “Green Mining: Best Practices and Responsible Reporting,” brought together participants from the Greater Accra, Western, and Upper East Regions.
It sought to equip journalists with knowledge on sustainable mining, ethical reporting, and regulatory compliance in the extractive sector.
Mr German, who spoke on behalf of Mr Gerard Boateng, Executive Director and Deputy Corporate Affairs Manager of Golden Star Resources, said employment expectations in mining areas were extremely high because mining companies were often the dominant employers in such communities.
He explained that many young people, after years of schooling, looked to the mines as their primary source of livelihood, an expectation mining firms found difficult to fully meet.
“As we know, employment is a major milestone in the life of every person, especially the youth. In mining communities, the companies are seen as the main employers, so everyone looks up to them. But the truth is that mining companies cannot employ everybody,” he said.
He noted that this gap between expectation and reality often created friction, leading to agitation when locals see others being employed while they remained jobless.
“Employment stands very tall among all the issues that trigger misunderstandings between communities and mining firms,” he added.
Mr German, however, pointed out that most large-scale mining companies had established structured community engagement processes, usually led by Community Affairs Departments, to address grievances before they escalate.
These systems, he said, had been instrumental in preventing widespread community–company conflicts across the country.
He added that local content agreements, legally binding documents often endorsed by the High Court, had become important tools for promoting local participation and easing tensions, adding that these agreements prioritised local communities in the provision of goods and services such as cleaning, landscaping, construction, and supply of basic materials.
“There is huge potential in local content. Not everybody can work directly in the mine, but they can benefit from the economic ecosystem it creates,” he explained, noting that ancillary services such as supplying cement, iron rods, and stationery were increasingly being reserved for community members.
He emphasised that residents must also adequately prepare themselves to take advantage of opportunities arising from mining activities, stressing that mining jobs required a broad spectrum of skills, from highly skilled mechanics, electricians, geologists, and laboratory technicians to semi-skilled drilling assistants and equipment operators.
“To take full advantage of the mining sector, the youth must look at the skills profile required by the industry and tailor their training toward that. The sector heavily favours hands-on jobs,” he said.
Mr German urged the Minerals Commission and other regulatory bodies to play a key role in ensuring compliance with local content requirements to promote transparency, accountability, and trust between residents and mining companies.
GNA
Edited by George-Ramsey Benamba