The Executive Vice President and Head of Gold Fields in West Africa received the Outstanding Mining CEO of the year award at the 9th Ghana Entrepreneur and Corporate Executive Awards.

Alfred Baku was honoured at a ceremony last Saturday for his exceptional leadership in overseeing Gold Fields’ expansion with the acquisition of a 45% stake in Asanko Gold Ghana last year, among other achievements.

The awards ceremony, organised by the Entrepreneurs Foundation of Ghana, also recognised other corporate executives and entrepreneurs for their immense contributions to job creation and Ghana’s economy.

Gold Fields, under Mr Baku’s leadership, has distinguished itself as a frontrunner in the mining industry in Ghana.

Mr Baku said the award was in recognition of his company’s continued efforts in setting standards in operational excellence, safety, environmental stewardship, business sustainability as well as national and host community development.

“This is a prestigious award and I feel humbled to be recognised. I have a great team that supports me to ensure that our strategic objectives are achieved. We do this in order to make our business sustainable for the benefit of all stakeholders,” he said.

Mr Baku, who has over two decades of experience in mining engineering, became the head of Gold Fields West Africa Region in February 2014.

Since then the company has grown steadily, driving a citizen agenda, which ensures that benefits are appropriately shared with stakeholders.

“We drive our community development through our foundation, the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation, which has so far spent over ¢300 million on community projects and programmes,” Mr Baku said.

This year, Gold Fields has directed its focus on high impact projects with long-term benefits to the communities that surround the company’s Tarkwa and Damang mines in the Western Region.

In February 2019, Mr Baku cut sod for work to begin on the upgrade of the Tarkwa and Abosso (T&A) Football Park. The company is also set to refurbish the Apinto Government Hospital in Tarkwa.

Gold Fields is investing close to ¢100 million in the two projects. The 33-km Tarkwa and Damang road, which Gold Fields rehabilitated at a cost of over $26 million, is expected to be commissioned in July this year.

Mr Baku joined Gold Fields in 2002 and rose through the ranks to get the top job. He previously served as the General Manager at the Tarkwa and Damang mines and was later promoted to Senior Vice President for West Africa.