This investment has been focused on reshaping the infrastructure, upgrading the mining methods and seeking to rectify -- as rapidly as far as possible -- both social and environmental legacies, in accordance with the company’s values.
This is also to enable the company to produce more gold at lower costs to generate more cash and meet its commitments to both shareholders and stakeholders.
Mr. Peter Anderton, Senior Vice President, AGA Ghana, said this at the company’s maiden townhall meeting held at Tarkwa in the Western Region.
The meeting brought together stakeholders including chiefs, opinion leaders, government officials and individuals, and was aimed at deepening community engagement and updating stakeholders on the performance and challenges facing both the company and the communities.
It was also to create the opportunity for meaningful interaction with stakeholders, especially people in the immediate communities.
Mr. Anderton indicated that beside the thousands of Ghanaians employed by the AngloGold Ashanti, its contribution to the country’s economy is enormous and has manifested in several ways.
He said AGA has paid about US$394million to the government, made up of direct and indirect taxes, and funded many corporate social responsibility projects to raise the living standards of the people in and outside the immediate communities.
“As part of its contribution to communities and societies where it operates, the company has funded the construction of more than dozen schools and partnered with Institute of African Studies of the University of Ghana to promote the study of the contribution of Africans to world civilisation.
“In the area of health, the company has created access for thousands of people to modern medical care through the construction and operations of hospitals and clinics; and currently AGA is scaling-up its Malaria Control Programme, started in Obuasi, to 40 districts and municipalities in the country -- most of which are in the malaria-endemic regions in the northern part of the country.”
He added: “AGA has also provided a number of infrastructure including schools, health facilities and among others in both the Obuasi and Iduapriem host communities.
“The company’s apprenticeship schemes in the operational areas have made it possible for hundreds of University and Polytechnic as well as technical school graduates -- most of whom are from host communities -- to access practical training in engineering, welding and fabrication, and management,” he said.
Mr. Paul Evans Aidoo, Western Regional Minister explained that the contribution of the mining industry to the country’s development cannot be over-emphasised.
“I have keenly followed development in the mining industry for a long time, and have always blamed mining companies for not doing much to publicise what they have been doing in the country to show how best the industry can be used to propel growth of the economy.
“For the mining companies, failure to be transparent enough and to throw more light on your activities is like operating in the dark.”
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