The Vice-Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Environment, Science and Technology, John Darko, has encouraged Asanko Gold Mine to make conscious efforts to increase its corporate social responsibility initiatives within its operational areas.
“The residents living within the mining communities want to see real and tangible improvements in their living conditions spearheaded by the mining firm to prevent unhealthy confrontations with the local people”, he stressed.
He stated that the host communities want to see the essence and importance of the gold being extracted and therefore “we encourage you to do more to create a mutually beneficial relationship through your social interventions to enhance your operations.”
Tour
Mr Darko, who is also the Member of Parliament for the Suame Constituency, made the remarks when the Parliamentary Select Committee toured the Asanko Gold Mine in the Ashanti Region last Friday.
The visit to the mining firm concluded a two-week tour undertaken by the committee led by its Ranking Member, Professor Hamza Adam, to large-scale mining companies as part of its oversight responsibility.
“I am sure that when the people appreciate the physical infrastructure of the company, they will rather come together to protect you instead of joining forces with illegal miners to invade and destroy your legally acquired concessions”, he stated.
Recently, some angry youth of Mpatuam went berserk and attacked the mine and burnt mining equipment of Rabotec, one of the mine’s contractors, worth more than $28million.
Illegal mining
He expressed concern about illegal miners who had invaded the mine’s concessions and continued to disrupt their operations, saying: “We plead with the government to come to their aid and clear all illegal miners operating on their concessions”.
“If we do not win the fight against illegal mining, we risk destroying our industries and forests, and of course, the future of this country as well”, he pointed out.
Cyanide use
For his part, Professor Adam expressed concern about the use of cyanide by illegal miners who dig pits and spill it in a bid to extract the ore, stressing “this is very bad as any leakage into waterbodies will put people at risk”.
He was hopeful that the rollout of cooperative mining in mining communities by the government would go a long way to help in the fight against illegal mining and reiterated the government’s commitment towards rolling out strategies to reduce illegal mining in the country.
Appeal
The Managing Director, Asanko Gold Mine, Dr Charles Amoah, appealed to the government to take the necessary steps to remove all illegal miners from their concessions to enhance their operations.
He called for improved protection of the company’s assets and resources through strengthened site-based security, emphasising that the recent destruction of their equipment by the irate youth was unacceptable.
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