Mining companies urged to cooperate with communities

Mr. Edwin Allotey Acquaye, the Cooperate Affairs Manager Perseus Mining Ghana Limited (PMGL) has urged mining companies in the country to cooperate and work hand-in- hand with communities within which they operate.

“If the communities support our operations, then we can work to meet their interest; it is only with peaceful cooperation that we can sustain our companies” he noted.

Mr Acquaye gave the advice in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at the weekend at Ayanfuri, in the Central Region.

Mining communities should also desist from what he described as ‘unnecessary demands on mining companies,’ to stem the tussles that usually came up between mining companies and the locals, to ensure the former remained focused to develop the communities.

He said Perseus Mining, like any other mining company, was committed to adding value to the lives of the people in their catchment area for accelerated socio-economic growth of the communities.

The company was spending a total of GH¢ 17,500.00 as scholarship grant to 26 pupils at the basic school level and had in addition awarded GH¢500.00 each to 17 second cycle students and GH¢ 1,000.00 each to nine tertiary students as part of its cooperate social responsibility.

Mr. Acquaye also said the PMGL has launched a development fund known as “Edikan Community Development Fund” to support communities affected by its gold mining operations and had pledged to add GH¢750, 00.0 every year.

Abenabena, Ayanfuri, Nkonya, Gyaman and Fobinso are among the communities to benefit from the Development Trust Fund.

He said PMGL also provided financial support to more than 72 Ghanaian youths to undergo a six months certificate programme, under the National Vocational Training Institute (IVTI), aimed at equipping them with the needed skills to improve their livelihood.

The company would continue to partner the communities for development opportunities that are sustainable to make the youth economically independent to support the development of their communities, Mr Acquaye assured

He said although the company had been adversely affected by the current power crisis, it had not laid-off any worker but hinted that it would not hesitate to do so if the situation continued in the coming years.

Mr. Acquaye said plans were underway to re-settle those affected by the activities of the company to protect each other's interest.