Newmont assures Ahafo North communities of adequate steps to protect environment

The Environment Manager of Newmont Ahafo North Project, Abena Acheampomaa Ankoma, has assured the five host communities within the company’s operational area that adequate steps are being taken to manage any potential impact of the mine on the environment.

To this end, the company has put in place a robust environmental monitoring regime which is an improvement over what pertains to its Ahafo South operations in the Asutifi North District.

She mentioned sediment and erosion control, water management, air quality management, waste management, reclamation and closure plans as some of the key activities that would be undertaken as it begins the construction phase of its Ahafo North project in no time.

Madam Acheampomaa Ankoma was addressing a day’s workshop in Sunyani for media practitioners on the company’s Ahafo North project in Tano North, Ahafo region as part of the company’s stakeholder engagement process.

Ahafo North Project

The project is a wholly-owned Newmont Project located near Sunyani, about 380 kilometers northwest of the capital city of Accra, and about 50 kilometers north of the current Ahafo South operations.

The Ahafo North project is part of the main Ahafo mining lease and the overall lease was part of the Normandy Mining acquisition in 2002.

The project consists of seven mineralized areas, 3.35 million ounces of reserves and a further 0.95 million ounces of resources.

With Yamfo, Susuanso, Terchire, Adrobaa and Afrisipakrom as the host communities, Newmont’s Board of Directors approved $750 to $850 million in July last year toward the development of the project.

Extra vigilance

The Environment Manager of the Project, Madam Acheampomaa Ankoma, noted that effective mechanisms are being put in place to ensure that no hazardous waste or chemical gets into the environment.

She said unlike the Water Storage Facility (WSF), also called water dam, at Ahafo South which is single-fenced with metal, the Ahafo North WSF will be doubled-fenced with metal and thorny materials to prevent possible trespassing into the facility by community people.

Socio-economic benefits

The Director of Communications and External Relations, Agbeko Kwame Azumah, enumerated some of the socio-economic benefits of the presence of Newmont Ghana Gold Limited to both the local and the national economy, especially in the area of job creation.

He said benefits accruing out of the Newmont Ahafo Development Foundation (NADeF) have been enhanced, which apparently translates into more funding opportunities for the host communities to undertake various development projects.

The Social Responsibility Manager of the Ahafo North Project, Marfo Oduro Kwarteng, briefed the media about the general overview of the project, stakeholder engagement, land access, highway diversion and the influx of people into the area as a result of the project.

The Ahafo Regional Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, Dr. Jackson Adiyaa Nyantakyi and Mr. Stevens Korshi Agbo of the Minerals Commission also took turns to address the participants.