Alfred Baku, Executive Vice President, Gold Fields Ghana
Gold Fields Ghana on Monday officially outdoored its 25th anniversary celebrations at its head office in Accra.
Addressing the media, Alfred Baku, Executive Vice President of Goldfields Ghana, touted the achievements of his outfit in Ghana since 1993 when it took over the State Gold Mining Corporation (SGMC).
“We have turned a low grade mine like Tarwka into a flagship mine that delivers returns to shareholders, including the government of Ghana.
The Damang Mine, which was on the verge of collapse, was given a fresh breadth of life with a $1.4 billion approved by the board in 2016. Our Tarkwa and Damang Mines have created over 7,000 direct and indirect jobs annually. Even with a conservative multiply effect calculation, we positively impact the livelihoods of between 70,000 and 100,000.”
“Our communities have been direct and major beneficiaries of our social support and the company has spent approximately $44 million in these communities in providing access to potable water, supporting our local farmers, putting up health and educational facilities, training our community youth, building critical infrastructure and extending bursaries and scholarships to bright but needy children,” he observed.
He added that Gold Fields has also contributed to the development of Ghana in diverse ways.
It has paid corporate tax and royalties to the tune of $1.23 billion, paid $98.1 million dividends to government, spent $43.7 million on community development and the sponsored the Black Stars with $15 million.
South African High Commissioner to Ghana, Lulana Xingwana, commended Gold Fields for positively affecting the lives of many Ghanaians over the years.
Sulemana Koney, President of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, also commended Gold Fields for the massive support it extended to the chamber and Black Stars during the World Cup in Germany.