By Erica Apeatua Addo, GNA
Akoon (W/R), Nov 04, GNA – Gold Fields Ghana Limited (GFGL) traded about $ 4.26 billion in Ghana from 2000 to date and is pushing for sustainable local suppliers.
Mr. Joshua Donkor, Manager Supply Chain, GFGL, said this during the third Gold Fields Suppliers Conference at the Akoon Clubhouse in Tarkwa.
He said, “it is important to build on the skills that we have and ensure that for instance the trader at Brahabebome main market is also able to build itself to a sense that when the Mine is no more or a single contract is ended, the person is able to move and serve other people and sustain themselves”.
Mr. Donkor mentioned WTS as one of the local companies the Mine had incubated, which provided them transport services.
“From nothing, they have been able to multiply their capability, and now there are seven other suppliers. That is what we need”.
Also, the supply chain manager mentioned Zen Petroleum, which he explained started small with the Mine but was now listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange.
“If you look at Zen Petroleum, we started with them when they were nowhere, but today we can see Zen Petroleum even listed on the Ghana stock exchange. That is what we mean, and we want to do more of that”.
On women participation, Mr. Donkor said the records remained low and called for international efforts to involve women in the mining industry.
“Most especially, we want to be intentional about the involvement and participation of women in the mining industry. The records are low. We are encouraging a lot of women to come and partner with us”.
He appealed to financial institutions to support women-led businesses to enable them to participate fully, adding that the company could only provide the platform but needs partners to provide financing that understands the business.
“For me, taxation was good and helped build the economy, but the government could have given some tax holidays to young and up-and-coming suppliers, especially female-led businesses,” Mr. Donkor suggested.
He stressed that these small companies would be competing with the big ones who were already on the market and have the financial muscle, stressed that, “if the government is intentional about it and gives them some tax holidays, l believe it will go a long way to help them”.
Professor Bernard Kumi Boateng, Vice Chancellor of the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Tarkwa added that the true value of a partnership between Mining companies and local suppliers should not be measured solely by contracts awarded or money spent but by skills, knowledge, capacity, and business opportunities that remained after the contract ends.
The two-day conference was on the theme, “Partnership for Enduring Value: Building Resilient Supply Chains Beyond Mining” brought together more than 300 local and international suppliers.
Some topics they discussed included ways to strengthen supply chain resilience, local procurement, and suppliers’ development among others.
GNA
Edited by Justina Hilda Paaga /Kenneth Odeng Adade
Reporter Erica Apeatua Addo
[email protected]