Brong Ahafo local assembly chief executives hold conference

Kenyase, (B/A) Aug.14, GNA – Municipal/District Chief Executives (M/DCEs) in the Brong-Ahafo Region have affirmed their resolve to partner the private sector for job creation to improve the socio-economic well-being of the people.

The M/DCEs made the affirmation during a familiarization tour at the plant site of Newmont Ghana Gold Limited (NGGL) Ahafo Mine at Kenyase in the Asutifi District to acquaint themselves with the operations of the company.

This formed of their two-day working conference that began on Friday.

The conference, fourth in the series and under the theme: “Collaboration for Victory”, served as the platform for the M/DCEs to assess and evaluate their performances, share experiences and strategize for effective administration and operations to get the “Better Ghana Agenda” on course.

The earlier three conferences of the M/DCEs were held in Sunyani, Techiman and Kintampo respectively.

Speaking before tour, Mr. Eric Addae, DCE for Asutifi, on behalf of his colleagues, stated that the assemblies and NGGL were all partners in development, saying their pact could contribute immensely for the realization of the government’s “Better Ghana Agenda”.

The M/DCEs and the assemblies, he said in general were to among other functions to ensure the successful execution of the government’s programmes for the betterment of the lives of the populace.

Mr. Addai said it was essential to make the Newmont Ahafo Mine visit because the company was making important contributions to the socio-economic development of the region and the nation as a whole.

Mr. Agbeko Kwame Azumah, Communications Manager, Newmont Ahafo Mine, welcoming the M/DCEs on behalf of the company, said NGGL recognized the role of the local government in sustainable development and was ready to partner the municipal and district assemblies in that regard.

Prior to the tour, Mr. Azumah took the M/DCEs through a slide presentation to explain the profile, operations and activities of the company, including its establishment 90 years ago at Denver, Colorado in the United States of America.

Besides the Newmont tour, the M/DCEs visited the ‘Galamsey” site at Kenyase to see the state of Galamsey operations in the area on Saturday.

Mr. Alex Kyeremeh, MCE for Techiman and Dean of the M/DCEs, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the essence of that visit was to see how to assist in regularizing the operations to also enable them to make suggestions to mitigate their effects on the environment.

The conference had a separate closed-door section to be briefed on the economic prospects for job creation in the oil and gas industry for the youth and how the National Youth Employment Programme on Afforestation was progressing in their areas.

Mr. Sanja Nanja, DCE for Atebubu-Amanten and Secretary to the conference, described the meeting as ‘a laudable initiative, saying it would facilitate their individual performance at work.