A scene during the engagement
Global (Ghana) Ore Industries Limited, a large-scale mining company, has pledged to transform its host communities through infrastructure development and full local content participation.
The company, which has taken over the Aboso-Bompieso mine in the Western Region, has also assured residents of significant local employment opportunities and community development initiatives.
Global Ore has therefore appealed to residents in its host communities to allow it access to its concession to commence operations and usher in a new era of mining activities in the area.
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources recently transferred the Aboso Mining Lease from Adudanfed Company Limited to Global Ore Industries Limited.
However, the company is facing challenges from illegal miners operating on the concession and preventing it from commencing lawful operations.
Speaking at a community engagement in Tarkwa, the Managing Director of Global Ore, Joseph Yankson Forbah, said, “We are not just here to mine. We are here to transform lives.”
The engagement was organised by the Attorney General’s Office in Tarkwa on Friday to address concerns raised by residents and explain the legal implications of obstructing the operations of a company that has lawfully acquired a mining concession.
According to Mr. Forbah, the company’s vision extends beyond gold extraction and focuses on creating sustainable benefits for host communities through infrastructure development, youth employment and local content participation.
He stated that the company would construct first-class roads, build schools and health facilities, and ensure strict environmental protection measures.
Mr. Forbah explained that, in line with the government’s local content policy, the company would outsource some of its operations, including mining, catering and engineering services, to Ghanaian businesses.
He further disclosed that a Community Employment Committee would be established to ensure that qualified people, particularly engineers from the catchment communities, are given employment opportunities within the company.
“All jobs that do not require specialised skills will be reserved for local people. There will also be training programmes to equip residents with employable skills,” he said.
The MD added that the large-scale mining company would contribute significantly to national development through the payment of corporate taxes, income taxes and dividends.
“We will also pay royalties to government and traditional authorities,” he added.
The Western Regional Head of the Minerals Commission, Francis Annobil, confirmed that Global Ore had fulfilled all legal requirements under the nation’s mining laws to operate on the concession as a large-scale mining company.
The Principal State Attorney and Head of the Attorney General’s Office for the Western and Western North regions, Angela Oboshie Ababio, warned that illegal mining attracts a minimum prison sentence of 15 years.
“We want peace to prevail, hence this engagement. We are fighting illegal mining, but we also want to consider the interests of the communities,” she said.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Tarkwa