Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Kwadwo Nyamekye Marfo, has deplored the attitudes of the mining communities within the operational areas of Newmont Ghana Gold Limited in the region, describing it as the major challenge facing the mining company. According to him the mining giant, which started operating in the region not too long ago, has “done well” in terms of fulfilling their corporate social responsibilities but some of the demands by the mining communities are beyond the reach of the company. Speaking in an interview with Adom News during the visit of the Parliamentary Press Corps to the Regional Coordinating Council as part of the group’s visit to Newmont Ghana, the regional minister commended the company for sticking to its values and continuing to operate despite the sometimes unreasonably high demands and demonstrations by the youth in the communities they operate in. He called on the community to ask for explanations rather than embarking on demonstrations to disturb the peace whenever they are agitated, explaining that Newmont has set aside a percentage of its net profit for the development of the communities within their catchment areas. “Sometimes they think Newmont is not treating them well. They cite a ‘quota system’ for the employment of the youth, training of personnel and what they think they should be getting from Newmont. “The Regional Security Council has been meeting with the chiefs and people as well as Newmont to find solutions. But as an organisation run by human beings in a community of human beings there will always be problems, and we have to work continuously to resolve them. “But so far Newmont Gold has been living peacefully with the people and fulfilling their social responsibility,” Mr Nyamekye Marfo added