Obuasi, July 11, GNA - The Ashanti Regional Police Commander, Mr Frank Adu-Poku, has called for concerted efforts at improving the security at the AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine to boost foreign investment.
"There is the need to protect and manage the mine well to attract more investors into the country", he said. The Regional Police Commander made the call on Monday when he paid a familiarization visit to the Mine to ascertain the security situation in the area.
The Obuasi Divisional Police Commander, Mr K. A. Oduro, Mr Feli Washington, the Manso-Nkwanta District Police Commander and Assistant Superintendent of Police Ekow Baffoe, Staff Officer to the Regional Commander, accompanied him.
Mr Adu-Poku said there was no need to play down the importance of the mine since "Obuasi is laying the golden eggs for the country". He said security was going to be a concern to the Police but stressed the need for a concerted effort between the Police and the AngloGold Ashanti security personnel.
"Though AngloGold Ashanti has its own security, they need the support of the police to ensure the protection of the mine", he said. The Regional Police Commander said the situation where unauthorized persons infiltrated the mine area could not be allowed and stressed the need to reinforce the security network. Mr Adu-Poku, however, said security was a shared responsibility and that they would need the support of AngloGold Ashanti in the reinforcement process.
The Managing Director of AngloGold Ashanti (Obuasi), Mr Daniel Spies, said the company was currently prospecting the deep mine. Mr Spies, a South African, praised the friendly nature of Ghanaians and said with that state, the vision of the country in addressing poverty could be realized.
Mr Y. B. Amponsah, General Manager, Human Resources, noted that the visit of the Regional Commander had reinforced the working relations between the company and the police. He said the location of the mine made the security situation quite delicate.
The Regional Police Commander was later taken round the stockpile and arsenic dam area and the heavy equipment workshop, all at the Sansu section of the mine.
