Newmont committed to sustainable development of host communities

Accra, June 14, GNA- Mrs. Adiki Ofeibea Ayitevie, Regional Manager of Comunications at Newmont Ghana Gold Limited (NGGL), on Friday said the company was committed to the sustainable development of its host communities. To this end, she said, NGGL had instituted development programmes that would improve the living standards of inhabitants of the host communities

Mrs. Ayitevie, who made this remark in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra, indicated that so far, the company had established five such development programmes, namely, the Ahafo Social Responsibility Agreement (ASRA), and the Livelihood Enhancement and Empowerment Programme (LEEP).

The rest, she said, were the Agricultural Improvement and Land Access Programme (AILAP), the Ahafo Linkages Programme (ALP), and the Vulnerable Programme (VP). The Regional Communications Manager said, ASRA which took effect from last month, and which comprised three agreements namely, the Relationship, Employment and Foundation agreements, "sets out key principles and directions

on how Newmont and its host communities will work together for mutual benefits." She named chiefs in the company's mining communities, the Tano North and Asutifi Districts Assemblies, as well as representatives of groups within the 10 Ahafo mining communities as signatories. They are Terchire, Adrobaa, Yamfo, Susuanso and Afrisipa in the Tano North District, and Kenyasi Numbers One and Two, Ntotroso, Gyedu and Wamahinso in the Asutifi District. Mrs. Ayitevie said LEAP targeted 2,000 households resettled or relocated due to the Ahafo Mine operations of NGGL AND was aimed at improving the livelihood, security and the quality of life of project affected households within the Ahafo Mine take area. She indicated that under LEEP, small and medium size enterprises had been created and strengthened to generate income for a total of 1,500 women and men; technical and vocational skills enhanced for 600 youth to improve employment and self-employment opportunities; and access to micro-credit for 800 clients, had enhanced business creation, expansion and performance.

On AILAP, the Regional Communications Manager stated that its goal was to increase the levels of agricultural produce diversity, product yield and market access, adding that, so far, 2,355 out of 3,000 farmers who received crop or building compensation, had benefited from the programme. Turning to ALP, Mrs. Ayitevie said, as a partnership between NGGL and the International Finance Corporation, the programme aimed at maximizing the business opportunities of local micro, small and medium scale enterprises, and sought ways to increase income of the communities around the Ahafo Mine. Winding up with VP, she said its objective was to provide a safety net for identified households directly impacted by the Ahafo Project in an empathetic, systematic and fair manner. "The programme supports these identified vulnerable households and assists them to attain self-sufficiency", she added. 14 June 08