Stories from Isaac Akwetey Okunor
In its effort to cement and deepen the already cordial and working relationship with the media, Newmont Golden Ridge Limited (NGRL-Akyem Project), last Friday, organised a day’s media forum for practitioners in the Eastern Region.
Characteristic of the NGRL-Akyem Project, the forum was centered on focus group discussions on Newmont’s activities, and the role of stakeholders in promoting sustainable community development in its operational area.
Speaking at the forum, the External Relations Manager of NGRL-Akyem Project, Mr. Oduro-Kwarteng Marfo, reiterated that “at Newmont Ghana, we believe that our relationship with the communities in our operational areas is inextricably linked to the success of our business.”
Thus, according to him, in collaborating with the media to create positive development impacts in and around the Akyem operational area, and to help strengthen community resilience and contribute to sustainable development outcomes, was most imperative.
The External Relations Manager of the company mentioned that the watchdog role of the media ensured that mining companies leave their host communities better than they came to meet them, hence, the need to continuously engage the media on what the company was doing and not in its operational area.
Mr. Oduro-Kwarteng indicated that the NGRL-Akyem Project was about 90 percent complete, and all things being equal, would start full operations in the last quarter of this year, with the company employing about 1,300 workers.
He continued that the company had settled all compensation issues, and hoped to have a good working and cordial relationship with the communities when it starts full operations, assuring the communities of the company’s readiness and commitment to work with all stakeholders.