The Newmont Golden Ridge Limited, Akyem Mine, has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening relationships and sharing projects, related developments, success and challenges with its stakeholders.
According to the company, despite the challenges, management had not reneged on its commitment to support communities within its operational areas, as well as the New Abirem District Assembly.
Key infrastructural projects initiated and completed by the company include the construction of health, education, water, sanitation, and safety and security facilities, as well as construction of a 2.5-kilometre stretch of road from the Newmont main entrance to the District Assembly junction, which is currently underway, at a cost of $2.5 million.
Speaking at its annual soiree for media practitioners in the Eastern Region, the Newmont Communication and External Relations Manager, Mr. Oduro-Kwarteng Marfo, said his outfit went through some difficult times during the year under review.
According to him: “This year, the company had to make yet another difficult but necessary business decision in September to lay off staff due to the volatility of the gold price and escalation in production cost among others”.
Notwithstanding the aforementioned challenges, the Communication and External Relations Manager indicated that the company upheld its values and integrity, trust and respect with its employees.
Mr. Oduro-Kwarteng highlighted a few remarkable achievements chalked by the company, including the transfer of over GH¢3 million into the account of the Newmont Akyem Development Foundation (NAkDeF), as part of the amount accumulated as at the end of August 2014.
The said money, the Communication and External Relations Manager said, had been invested in an Ecobank EDC interest-yielding investment for six months.
Another achievement is the the graduation of the first batch of 30 apprentices after successfully completing a four year training programme in mine maintenance from the company’s apprenticeship training programme launched in December 2013.
The 30, who were the first batch of 62 local youth enrolled onto the programme, were presented with City and Guilds London Certificates and a Newmont Ghana Certificate of Competence.
Mr. Oduro-Kwarteng mentioned that although the programme does not guarantee automatic employment in Newmont, US$25,000 was spent on each apprentice.
He also appealed to stakeholders within the operational area of the company to provide effective and efficient support to the management of the company to help create a conducive environment for productive work delivery.