Newmont Ahafo Mine reclaims 75 hectares of lost forest

Newmont Gold Ghana Limited’s (NGGL) Ahafo Mine has reclaimed 75 hectares of forest lost through its operations at Kenyase Number Two in the Asutifi North District of the Brong Ahafo Region.

This has been planted with different economic tree species including ‘Odum’, ‘Sapele’, ‘Wawa’, and Mahogany alongside medicinal plants.

Mr. Anthony Loh, the Environmental Manager of the company, said the target was to reforest an additional 350 hectares by the close of 2016.

He made this known when a group of Journalists led by Kenteman Nii Laryea Sowah, Executive Secretary of the Private Newspaper Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG), toured the mine.

They were conducted round the multi-national mining giant’s processing and treatment plants, the ‘subika’ pit, tailings and water storage facilities, and resettlement communities.

Mr. Loh said they were determined to restore every hectare of forest destroyed to sustain the eco-system, adding that, about 1,300 hectares of forest area covered by the mining activity would be reclaimed.

Mr. Agbeko Azumah, the Communications and External Relations Manager, said the company’s contribution to the economy of Ghana had been substantial – about 0.60 per cent of the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

It had contributed $39 million to household incomes, paid $31 million in dividends and $160 million in tax incomes, he said, adding that the company’s tax and royalty payments accounted for 2.55 per cent of the national tax revenue.

He added that through its Newmont Ahafo Development Foundation (NADeF), it had also constructed a total of about 70 community development projects in its operational area.

Kenteman Sowah commended the company for its interventions to fight poverty and living up to its social responsibility.

He expressed optimism that the mine would continue to provide information to the media to accurately report on its activities.

Source: GNA