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Newmont Ghana has held a series of human rights training programmes for its employees and business stakeholders to create awareness about the company’s human rights principles and the role of employees in their implementation.
Newmont has been a signatory to the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (VPSHR) initiative since 2004. As part of its membership requirements, a company has to create awareness and regularly train its employees and business partners on the VPSHR.
The Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights Initiative was established in 2000 to guide companies in maintaining the safety and security of their operations within an operating framework that encourages respect for human rights.
About four hundred and fifty-two (452) employees, business partners and officers from the Public Law Enforcement Agencies participated in the trainings held at Newmont Ghana’s three operating sites in Ahafo, Akyem and Accra.
Participants were taken through several lessons and scenarios on the VPSHR including how to apply the appropriate force necessary to deal with situations that require the use of force.
A scenario was also developed to assist the public security forces to understand the procedure acceptable in using force in a manner that wouldn’t undermine the rights of persons they engaged.
Mr. Leon Nefdt, the Regional Security Director of the company said, the training was interesting and beneficial to the participants.
“We believe that the VPs and the Human Rights standards have been understood by our employees, business partners and major external stakeholders. Newmont as a company wants to conduct its operations in an atmosphere where there is security for its staff, its installations and operating environment while at the same time promoting respect for human rights.”
Mr. Nefdt reiterated that the company will continue to ensure that employees, business partners and other stakeholders behave ethically and respect each other’s customs, cultures and laws wherever it operates.
The company plans to further extend the programme to allow its host communities and their opinion leaders to also participate in it.
Already Newmont Ghana has instituted a complaints and grievances (C&G) mechanism as part of measures to mitigate the impact of its mines on mining communities.
The company has thus established standardized steps to record and address external stakeholders’ claims and concerns that arise as a result of any Newmont related action or initiative.
