Collins Dauda
The Parliamentary Select Committee on Land and Natural Resources has urged mining companies to ensure communities in which they operate benefit from their mining operations.
Chairman of the committee, Alhaji Collins Dauda, the MP for Asutifi South, made this statement when the committee toured Newmont Ahafo South and North mining sites to acquaint themselves with the operations of the mines.
The two-day tour organised by the Chamber of Mines allowed members to have firsthand knowledge of various operations of the mine, see various corporate social responsibility projects and ask probe issues of concern.
On the first day, the members toured Newmont Ahafo South Mine (Kenyasi), where the mine has been operating for almost 20 years. They were briefed on various stages of operations and visited pits and reclaimed lands where mining activities took place but are now covered by green vegetation.
At Ahafo North (Terchire, Adrogbaa), where mine construction is still ongoing and commercial gold production is expected to begin in the second half of 2025, members observed various installation activities and expressed satisfaction and appreciation for the heavy capital investment.
They were informed that the Ahafo project has an expected life span of 14 years but has the potential to go beyond.
Addressing the management and staff of the company after the tour, Mr. Dauda, urged the company to make job creation a priority for the youth.
‘The people expect to see development, so create jobs for the youth. In all your operations, don’t forget about job creation. He further urged the company to ensure the provision of more social amenities such as roads, adding, ‘Some of the roads we have seen are in bad shape. You must help improve the state of the roads.
We don’t want to see Kenyasi become like Obuasi and Tarkwa. It cannot be business as usual, so I entreat you to provide development for the people because this is the only way they can benefit from their natural resources,” he added.
Briefing the committee members, General Manager of Ahafo North, Charles Bissue explained that all five affected communities under Ahafo North, including Sosuanso, Terchire, and Adrogbaa, among others, are all benefitting from the same social responsibility projects under NADeF (Newmont Ahafo Development Foundation), saying resettlement housing units are currently under construction.
A member of the committee, Samuel Atta-Mills, MP for Kommenda Edina Eguafo Abrem, expressed satisfaction with the knowledge gained, saying it will inform them on issues affecting mining when it comes to bills concerning mining companies in Parliament.
FROM Daniel Y Dayee, Terchire