The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, says President John Mahama has succeeded in reducing the smuggling of gold at the nation’s land borders and airports.

Mr Iddrisu was responding to a question during the commissioning of the Kenyasi Number Two Campus of the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) in the Asutifi North District of the Ahafo Region.

The Paramount Chief of Ntotroso, also the President of the Ahafo Region House of Chiefs, Barima Twereku Ampem III, questioned the minister on the benefits of gold mining in employment and revenue generation.

“I will be careful because that isn’t my mandate, but I am happy to note and report that gold exports reached a record high of GH₵20 billion in 2025”, he stated.

Mr Iddrisu said the figure nearly doubled the GH₵10.3 billion recorded in 2024, and was probably even above the GH₵1.7 billion in 2014 and the GH₵1.9 billion, accounting for about 34 per cent of AFGM gold.

He explained that President Mahama was increasing local participation of Ghanaians in the management of gold.

“I believe they should even extend it to the chiefs in a more consultative way that the mining of gold will benefit the people”, the Minister suggested.

Mr Iddrisu called on the Newmont Ghana Gold Limited to adjust upwardly its commitment to the Newmont Ahafo Development Foundation (NADeF), the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility driver.

“Making the optimal and judicious use of the resources, Newmont must adjust its 1$ from every ounce of gold sold and one percent of annual pre-tax net profit committed to the foundation”, he stated.

The General Manager of the Ahafo South Mine of Newmont Ghana Gold Limited, Alex Kofi Annin, said that: “Newmont believes that the true value of mining must be measured by the lives we help improve and the opportunities we create for sustainable development”.

He said many of its workers across the Ahafo South Mine were UMaT graduates, including underground and surface mine managers, underground and surface mine technical service managers, health and safety and several other professionals across the business.

“Their careers reflect the strong academic and professional foundation that the UMaT provides”, he stated.

Mr Annin said together with its host communities, NADeF had pursued a deliberate strategy to strengthen education and skills development in the Ahafo region, targeting training and critical infrastructure.

Key investments include the Ntotroso College of Nursing and the Kenyasi Police Training School as well as the proposed establishment of a College of Education being championed by the Kenyasi Number One Traditional Council.

The Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of NADeF, Professor Yaw Ofosu-Kusi, explained that the foundation’s funding was from the commitment of $1 from every ounce of gold sold and one percent of annual pre-tax net profit from Newmont Ahafo Mine’s operations.

He said that the NADeF prioritized community participation, ownership and an independent governance structure, guided by the principles of integrity, respect, stewardship, participation, inclusiveness and transparency.

The Paramount Chief of the Kenyasi Number Two Traditional Area, Odeneho Dadieako Nsiah Ababio, commended the government for the campus and called on the government to also expand physical infrastructure development at the OLA Girls Senior High School in the area.