Newmont Ghana has said it will continue to rely on the Government, community leaders, and security agencies to protect its people, assets, and communities.

This comes on the heels of attacks by suspected illegal small-scale miners on national and company security protecting its Ahafo South mine.

In a statement, the mining giant said they have been collaborating with the National and Ahafo Regional Police command to responsibly remove illegal artisanal miners from its Ahafo South mine’s mining area following persistent illegal mining encroachment. 

The statement said the latest of these attacks occurred on Wednesday, July 14 2021, when the
illegal operators wielding weapons and machetes attacked the police who reportedly reacted in
self-defence. 

“The illegal miners then blocked and prevented access to community routes, intercepted employee and contractor buses, and vandalized company property”, the statement explained.

The company recounts how a similar incident occurred two weeks ago following the arrest of seven illegal miners in one of their Ahafo South mine pits. 

A group of suspected illegal miners, demanding the release of the seven operators, the statement said, vandalized Newmont Ghana and contractor buses used in conveying employees from surrounding communities to work.

The Regional Senior Vice President for Africa Operations, Francois Hardy, said, “It is worrying to see illegal small-scale miners repeatedly threatening the security of our employees, assets, and communities.

"We will continue to collaborate with the Government and other stakeholders to protect our workforce, communities, and assets as we focus on creating value that benefits our workforce, host communities, and the broader country,” he added.

Francois Hardy also said Newmont Ghana remains committed to undertaking responsible and sustainable mining that creates shared value for its stakeholders.

“The Company will continue engaging in good faith dialogue and collaboration with Government, community leaders, and security agencies to bring peace and stability to its operating area while creating viable and sustainable alternative employment opportunities for its host communities”, he concluded.

Newmont Ghana is the country’s leading gold producer and operates two gold mines: the Ahafo Mine in the Ahafo region and the Akyem Mine in the Eastern Region.

The company is a subsidiary of Newmont Corporation, the world’s leading gold business. Commercial production at Ahafo began in 2006 and at Akyem in 2013.

The company currently employs over 6,500 employees and contractors.  Its Ahafo mine was named Mining Company of the Year in 2016 and Ghana’s Corporate Social Responsibility Organization for 2018, while the Akyem mine was adjudged the Best Company in Ghana for 2015 and 2016.