Newmont awards contracts to local companies

Kenyasi (B/A), April 29, GNA - Newmont Ghana Gold Limited (NGGL) has awarded contracts worth more than 10.5 million dollars to local vendors and suppliers who have remarkable bearing on employment opportunities in the operational area of its Ahafo project. Mr. Dan Michaelsen, General Manager in charge of Environment and Social Responsibility of NGGL, said this in a speech read for him at the Ahafo Business Week at Kenyasi on Tuesday.

NGGL together with the Ahafo Business Association and the International Finance Corporation organised the two-day event which was on the theme "Developing businesses in Ahafo through partnership". More than 40 companies are participating in the programme designed for local entrepreneurs to enhance their understanding of business practices as well as to showcase Ahafo as a place to do business in Ghana. Mr. Michaelsen dismissed the perception that mining communities do not benefit from the presence of mining companies and are underdeveloped. "Very much aware of this perception, NGGL showed early determination to change the script by developing the capacity of the local economy not only to support the mine but to remain buoyant and diversified even after the life of the mine", he said. The general manager said it was against this background that the company, in collaboration with the International Finance Corporation, established the Ahafo Linkages Programme in 2007 out of which the Ahafo Business Association was borne.

Mr. Michaelsen explained that the programme aimed at generating employment and increasing revenue for local medium and small scale enterprises through the provision of business development training, mentoring and diversification. He said NGGL would continue to support the development of the local economy to significantly improve the lives of the people.