AngloGold Ashanti congratulates Professor Jacob Gordon

AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) has congratulated Professor Jacob Gordon as the second occupant of the Kwame Nkrumah Chair of the Institute of African Studies (IAS) at the University of Ghana.

AGA’s six year association with the Kwame Nkrumah Chair began in September 2007, with initial funding support of US$400,000. 

The Kwame Nkrumah lectures are funded by AGA as part of the celebration of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah legacy.

This year’s installation lectures were held in the Institute of African Studies at the University of Ghana, Legon, and were chaired by Prof. Ernest Aryeetey, Vice Chancellor of the University.

Dignitaries present at the event were the Director of the Institute, Prof. Akosua Adomako Ampofo, and Dr. Mercy Akrofi-Ansah, heads of department and faculty members.

Peter Anderton, Senior Vice President, AGA Ghana, speaking at the event said: “On behalf of the board, management and staff of AngloGold Ashanti, I wish to congratulate Professor Gordon on his installation in the Kwame Nkrumah Chair.

“AGA’s work with the IAS reflects its commitment to development in education and business in Africa, in line with Nkrumah’s vision.  

 “AGA promotes study and research through partnerships with key educational establishments. Key to social and economic development, education is a cornerstone of AGA’s pledge to make communities where it operates better-off for its being there.”

AGA’s support to IAS is part of its commitment to investing in education to generate employment and contribute to general development and improvement of livelihoods for its neighbouring communities. AGA has established 12 schools in Obuasi and seven schools in Iduapriem to support education in those communities.

AGA’s investments in education also include partnerships for employee training with institutions such as the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration and the University of Cape Town. Between 2004 and 2011, AGA had committed US$9million on internal training initiatives.

AGA makes significant investments in capacity building, training and skills development. Programmes are designed to generate employment opportunities for people in the communities in which AGA operates across multiple economic sectors, not just mining.

At a pan-African level, AGA supports the African Mineral Skills Initiative in partnership with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.

The Initiative supports the Africa Mining Vision for the minerals sector by focusing on broad skills development in Africa, and the locally-owned delivery of skills and opportunities through selected African mining schools.

AngloGold Ashanti is a global gold mining company and the world’s third-largest gold producer. Headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, AngloGold Ashanti has 20 operations on four continents and one of the gold industry’s most successful exploration teams -- which works across both the established and new gold producing regions of the world. 

This includes land positions in Colombia, Guinea and Australia, among others. AngloGold Ashanti employed 61,242 people, including contractors, in 2011 and produced 4.33Moz of gold, generating US$6.6billion in gold income. Capital expenditure in 2011 amounted to US$1.5billion. As at 31 December 2011, AngloGold Ashanti’s Ore Reserve totalled 75.6Moz.

The primary listing of the company’s ordinary shares is on the JSE Limited (JSE). Its ordinary shares are also listed on stock exchanges in London and Ghana, as well as being quoted in New York in the form of American Depositary Shares (ADSs); in Australia, in the form of CHESS Depositary Interests (CDIs); and in Ghana in the form of Ghanaian Depositary Shares (GhDSs).