By Kwabia Owusu-Mensah
Kumasi, March 13, GNA – Mr Ahmed Mohadini-Yahaya, the General Manager of Asanko Gold Mine, has reiterated the Mine’s commitment to collaborate effective with the media and other key stakeholders to promote responsible and sustainable mining in its catchment areas.
He said environmental protection, safety, transparency and inclusion were key elements in the Mine’s operation.
He said responsible mining meant safe operations that prioritise people, environmental stewardship and compliance, creating economic opportunities locally, open engagement between communities and stakeholders as well as the media.
Mr Mohadini-Yahaya was speaking at a meeting with some selected editors and media practitioners in Kumasi.
The meeting, which was held on the theme: “building responsible mining communications with media partners”, aimed at building closer relationships with the media to ensure constructive dialogue and open communication around mining activities.
The aim is to promote greater understanding, stronger channels, fewer confrontations especially, with local communities, while building closer collaborations with all stakeholders and host communities.
Mr Mohadini-Yahaya said about 99.8 per cent of the Mine’s workforce were Ghanaians, adding that, nearly half of the number were drawn from host communities.
He said about 2,709 contract jobs were awarded to people from over the 35 local communities in its catchment area.
He said the Mine had taken upon itself to train the local youth in the use of all equipment used in the Mine’s operations to create opportunities for the local people.
Dr Daniel Twumasi, the Environmental Manager, said environmental safety and sustainability were key in the Mine’s operations, adding that the Mine was converting its waste materials into fertilizer to reclaim the lands in its operational areas.
Dr Kofi Kwakye, the Sustainability Manager of the Company, said education, health, community infrastructure, agriculture and livelihoods, were key priorities in the Mines Corporate Social Responsibility, adding that, these had been adequately captured in its five-year development plan.
He stressed the need for the media to project the positive impact of mining and work to ensure that the mining sector was effectively regulated to help reduce the negative impacts in society.
GNA
Edited by Kwabia Owusu-Mensah/ Christabel Addo