Salman resettlement project begins

Nkroful,(W/R) July 3, GNA - Mr. Paul E. Aidoo, Western Regional Minister, has said the mistrust between some communities and mining companies is the result of unemployment and the inability of the people to benefit directly from these companies. He said it was sad that the present arrangement for the distribution of royalties made it difficult for many host communities to see any infrastructural change.

Mr. Aidoo said these when the sod was cut for construction work to begin on a 23,000 US-dollar resettlement facility for the people of Salman, near Nkroful.

He, therefore, appealed to companies to employ some indigenes and assist others with agro processing opportunities. The facility will accommodate 2,154 people who are presently living within 250 metres of the Salman pit. It covers approximately 25 percent of the Nzema Gold Project, being managed by Adamus Resources Limited. Mr. Steve Yirenkyi, the Resettlement Manager, said the facilities to be provided at the new site would include room for room replacement, use of hydrafoam blocks, pump fitted bore holes, Police Station with residential quarters, clinic with nurses quarters, lorry parks, modern markets, organized sanitary area with skip dumps, teachers' quarters, a community centre and an ultra modern chief's palace.

Mr. David McNee, General Manager of Adamus Resources Limited, said the project, which would mine 2.2 metric tones of gold per annum, has a mine life of between nine and 10 years.

He said the first gold is expected to be produced in the first quarter of next year, adding that, though the company acquired the Salman, Anwia and Anwai South concessions between 2003 and 2006, it had not been able to begin operations due to the resettlement and other challenges. Mr. McNee said the construction at the plant site, purchase of equipment, construction of a processing plant, tailings dam and other infrastructure had all been completed. 03 July 10