Newmont says it’s committed to the health and welfare of local communities
Newmont Ghana says, it is committed to transparently engaging and partnering with local communities to improve lives and mitigate impacts associated with its operations.
In line with the company’s purpose to create value and improve lives through sustainable and responsible mining, Newmont welcomes all well-intentioned input to enhance mining’s benefits to local communities, it said in a press release copied to ghanabusinessnews.com.
“Protecting and promoting the health and welfare of our employees and local communities is a top priority for us,” Paul Sowley, Newmont Ghana’s Senior Director for Sustainability and External Relations was quoted as saying.
He was responding to allegations in some media outlets based on a report by non-governmental organizations, WACAM and Ford Foundation.
“We are currently studying the accuracy of the reports and will provide further information once we complete the review. Our review will include following up with the reports’ authors to better understand their data collection, analysis and assessment methods, which seem to lack the scientific rigour to support their conclusions,” Mr. Sowley was further cited as saying.
The company argues that its mitigation programmes in Ahafo, namely the Agricultural Improvement and Land Access Programme, Vulnerable Peoples’ Programme and Skills Development Improvement Programme, have supported more than 10,000 people.
It also indicated that the Company has installed new wells, monitored ground water supplies, improved sanitation and worked closely with local communities on monitoring and protecting water quality.
Newmont argues further that, the Ahafo Development Foundation which has accrued more than Gh¢54.2million, is positively enhancing lives with the award of over 8,000 scholarships, 100 infrastructure projects (including schools, libraries, health facilities and potable water projects). The Foundation also has given out micro-credit support to approximately 1,500 beneficiaries, most of them women.
The company says it has undertaken deliberate efforts to empower women in all spheres of development. From its inception, the Ahafo mine instituted a gender mainstreaming policy to guide all social development interventions, adding it recognizes that there remain opportunities to improve lives and mitigate impacts. Through ongoing, transparent and responsible partnership with local communities, the company will help create value and improve lives through sustainable and responsible mining.
By Pamela Ofori-Boateng