Newmont’s CSR initiative is unique - Asantehene

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has lauded Newmont Ghana for showing leadership and executing its social responsibility programmes in a way never before experienced in Ghana’s mining history.

The Asantehene said Newmont’s commitment to the development of its host communities in the Ahafo area is an example worth emulating by other mining companies in the country.

“This is the first company that I learnt has set aside US$1 out of every earning per ounce of gold and then also 1% out of its net profit to develop the community…they set up a community foundation that allows the community to determine the projects that should be done to benefit the community and I believe this is a laudable one,” he said.

The Asantehene was interacting with management and staff of Newmont Ghana’s Ahafo Mine and some key traditional leaders of Ahafo during a working visit to the mine recently.

It was his first since the establishment of the mine six years ago.

He urged the traditional leaders of Ahafo to collaborate effectively with the company to ensure sustainable development for their people.

The Asantehene also commended Newmont for making the safety of its employees and host communities a priority and entreated employees to adhere to laid down safety guidelines so as to ensure injury free operations in the mine.

“Newmont has put in place safety measures that will help its employees. To them Safety is more important than money. From all indications, and from what I saw, they think about their employees more than the money,” he added.

He advised employees to demonstrate excellent professional ethics and work diligently to help the company achieve its business objectives.

Regional Senior Vice President of Newmont’s Africa Region, Dave Schummer, was grateful to the Asantehene for the visit and assured him of the company’s commitment to ensure peaceful co-existence with the communities while adhering to the highest safety and environmental standards in the industry.