Newmont Gold Ghana Limited says its Ahafo Linkages Programme (ALP), designed to maximise procurement from local Ahafo businesses, has created more than 15,000 direct and indirect jobs.
The programme, estimated to cost US$3million, is a partnership concept between Newmont Ghana and the International Finance Company (IFC) aimed at building the capacity of local businesses to help ensure the development of a diversified economy outside the Mine.
It offers broad training in records-keeping, business management, market diversification, finance facilitation and technical as well as productive assistance to local small and medium-sized supplier in its Ahafo host communities.
Between 2007 and 2009, 99 suppliers from its local Ahafo host communities were awarded contracts to the tune of US$14.5 million, whilst the programme contracted business worth US$272 million in 2008 with Ghanaian businesses. The businesses under the initiative also accessed US$6.8 million from other clients apart from Newmont Ghana in 2009.
A total of 341 Ghanaian businesses were also awarded contracts worth over US$144.3 million, accounting for over 60 percent of Newmont Ghana’s total purchases in 2009.
Mr. George Brakoh, Manager, Local Supplier & Contractor Development, Newmont Ghana, explaining during a media interaction said: “We are proud to continuously partner with interested organisations to develop business opportunities with local business people for the wellbeing of our host communities in Ghana and all our other operations the world-over.”
Newmont Ghana appreciates all its partners in the Ahafo Linkages Programme, including, Ahafo Local Business Association (ALBA), Technoserve International, CDC Consult Limited and FIT Ghana for their efforts in the drive to provide the needed local content to help attain sustainable development.
Meanwhile, the business initiative has won the most awards at the recent 2010 Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply UK (CIPS) Procurement Awards for the African continent, held on April 19 in South Africa.
ALP was the leading award recipient with three awards: the Best Community Procurement Award, the Best Supplier Diversity Project Award while Newmont Ghana’s Manager, Local Supplier & Contractor Development, George Brakoh, was named the Best Procurement Professional of the Year (Male Category) at the 2010 CIPS UK Annual Procurement Awards.
“We are encouraged that our efforts at creating income and employment opportunities for local businesses in and around the Ahafo area, substantially improving the environment for local business development and long-term survival have been recognised at an international level,” the company’s Regional Vice President, Environment & Social Responsibility, Nick Cotts, said.
The awards covered eight categories and were open to a range of businesses including smaller entrepreneurial businesses and large, thriving organisations.
The Best Procurement Community Award was given based on the role Newmont Ghana’s supply chain management function had played in safeguarding and enhancing the company's reputation and brand values while undertaking a role in using procurement for social and economic enhancement.
The Best Supplier Diversity Project was awarded based on the company demonstrating that it had addressed the use of local suppliers, in particular local small and medium-sized enterprises (SME's), and had also engaged them in supplier development programmes.
The judges also looked at how the Newmont Ghana had increased employment, profitability and revenue generation of its local suppliers, while at the same time not over-exposing them to unnecessary commercial risks. George Brakoh, Newmont Ghana’s Manager, Local Supplier & Contractor Development, won the Best Procurement Male Professional of the Year award.
He was adjudged to have made the most effective contribution to his organisation in terms on innovation, leadership, knowledge-sharing and demonstrating that he is a good team-player.
The judges also determined that his initiatives had impacted considerably upon the bottom-line of Newmont Ghana and its customers by promoting good procurement.
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