AngloGold Ashanti (Iduapriem) Limited has commenced construction of a soap production factory in New Tokunaso in the Prestea-Huni Valley Municipality.

The move forms part of efforts to provide sustainable economic opportunities to help boost income levels of women in its host communities.

The ultra-modern factory, which is 85 per cent complete, will have an office, raw materials sculpturing area, processing area, packaging area, and products storeroom, among other facilities.

Products from the factory will include liquid soap, carbolic, bar soap, bleach, disinfectants, and hand sanitizers.

Work on the $78,197.49 facility, equivalent to ¢445,726, commenced in June 2020 and would be completed and handed over in October 2020.

Senior Manager, Sustainability for Iduapriem Mine, Stephen Adjei, mentioned that the factory would be operated by the New Tokunaso Women’s Group, a 12-member group that received training in sustainable livelihood programmes and other interventions from the company on completion. 

According to him, the Mine had supported the group to register as a business entity with the Registrar General’s Department, under the business name Adwenpaye Association, and already have some products on the market certified by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA).

He said the Mine provided the group with start-up kits required to produce assorted soap and detergents.

The Senior Manager, also said the group was subsequently awarded a contract by the company to produce and supply certified liquid and carbolic soaps for handwashing purposes across the Mine and host communities as part of its covid-19 response initiatives.

He noted that creativity yielded about ¢27,360 to the beneficiaries, adding that, the construction of the soap factory forms part of the expansion programme to increase the number of beneficiaries along the value chain.

Stephen Adjei reiterated that the New Tokunaso Soap Project is part of the many other initiatives under implementation by Iduapriem Mine to address the unemployment situation within its host communities and to create a sustainable future of shared value with all stakeholders.

AngloGold Ashanti is an international gold mining company with a globally diverse, high-quality portfolio of operations and projects.

With its headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, AngloGold Ashanti is the third-largest gold mining company in the world and the largest on the African continent, producing 3.3Moz and employed 34,263 people in 2019.

Currently, the company has two operations in Ghana; Obuasi and Iduapriem Mines with each wholly-owned subsidiary of AngloGold Ashanti.

AngloGold Ashanti (Iduapriem) Limited operates the Iduapriem Mine in the Western Region of Ghana, about 17km southwest of Tarkwa.

The Iduapriem Mine started operation in June 1992 as a Ghanaian Australian Goldfields Limited.

It then became part of the AngloGold Group in 2004 following the business combination with Ashanti Goldfields Limited that year.

Iduapriem Mine is an open-pit operation comprising the Iduapriem and Teberebie mining leases covering an area 110km2 concession and encompassing 19 communities.

With a vision “To be the leading mining company”, Iduapriem mine employs about 2500 people, of which 99% are Ghanaians. 

Its mission is, therefore “To create value for our shareholders, our employees, and our business and social partners through safely and responsibly exploring, mining, and marketing our products.

Our primary focus is gold, but we will pursue value-creating opportunities in other minerals where we can leverage our existing assets, skills, and experience to enhance the delivery of value”.