Mining giant, AngloGold Ashanti, has launched a programme to develop Obuasi over the next 10 years.

The company on Thursday launched a 10-year socio-economic plan for Obuasi and its adjoining communities.

The move will see the revamping of the local economy and developing the socio-infrastructural blocks of communities in its area of operation.

The Socio-economic Development plan aims at contributing to a resilient local economy and the welfare of community members.

Its Socio-economic development plan is a build-up on a just-ended 3-year Social Management Plan.

The Social Management Plan, started in 2018, contributed to diversifying the local economy of Obuasi by designing and implementing sustainable interventions.

The 10-year socio-economic development plan promises to contribute to employment and job creation, technology and innovation, gender and social inclusion and health through partnerships with local government assemblies and other key stakeholders.

Senior Vice President AGA Ghana and Tanzania business unit, Richard Jordinson noted “we are here to build on the existing partnerships and engage in a dialogue that will allow us to implement our 10-year Socio-economic Development Plan," he added.

"By the end of the project, we will be able to celebrate the numerous accomplishments and benefits that the 10-year Socio-Economic Development Plan will bring to the Obuasi Communities and Ghana at large in the coming years”.

The lack of development of Obuasi and its environs despite years of active gold mining has been a subject of public concern.

Managing Director of the AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine, Eric Wireko Asubonteng assured of the successful implementation of the project.

“I am hopeful for the future, because we have a plan for continuing the good work in a structured and well thought through pogramme, through the 10-Year Socio-Economic Development Plan (SEDP). Our stakeholders and indeed, all of us gathered here today, have one thing at heart and a common vision. And that is the development of our people and host communities here in Adansi.

“This 10-Year Socio Economic Development Plan presents us with an opportunity to rally around that common course, once again, in pursuit of that shared vision. I hope we will continue the constructive collaborations, so that Obuasi and Adansiman can reap immense benefits from the 10-Year SEDP,” he said.

Chief of the Adansi traditional council, Opagyakotwere Bonsra Afriyie II lauded initiatives and policies implemented by the gold mine since its reopening in 2019.

“We are pleased with the $2 dollar per gold ounce initiative to the AngloGold Ashanti Trust Fund. The fund has brought a lot of developments to Adansi and we hope for more,” he said.

The mining community continues to struggle with the devastating impacts of illegal small-scale mining.

Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah, reiterated government’s commitment to clamping down on the resurgence of illegal activity.