Parliamentary select committee tours mines

The Parliamentary Select Committee on Environment, Science and Technology on Monday embarked on a week tour of selected mines to assess the impact of their activities on the health of the people and environment.

The legislators would also acquaint themselves with the operations of the companies in totality as these affect the socio-economic development of the communities and map out strategies to mitigate any adverse impact.

The tour, organised by the Ghana National Chamber of Mines, is taking the committee members through Ashanti Goldfields Company (AGC) mines at Obuasi, Bibiani and Ayamfuri, Bonte Mines, Midras Mines, Resolute Amansie, Abore Mines and Ghana Consolidated Diamonds Limited.

The Committee has the responsibility to inquire into the operations of the mines to assess their benefits to the nation, effect on health of workers and impact on the ecology.

It is also obligatory on the Committee to carry the necessary feedback to Parliament for effective legislation and action to ensure that the interest of stakeholders were safeguarded.

At AGC Bibiani, the Managing Director, Daniel Owiredu said the company produced its first gold of around 26,000 fine ounces in 1998 and up to date, has delivered 1.657 million ounces.

According to him, the company complies strictly with guidelines of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as well as provide community project assistance to enhance the economic advancement of the people.

"To date, the company has expended over 412,000 dollars on community projects assistance, in the fields of education, health, provision of boreholes and hand-dug wells, sanitation, road works and agriculture."

Twenty- five per cent of the workforce of the mines were recruited from local communities, he said, explaining that “this is so because most of the people lack the necessary skills for the job and we are now taking them through the requisite training process".

On reclamation of the land, Owiredu said the company has so far planted 22,000 seedlings since 1998 and this would continue vigorously to the end of the projected mine life in 2008, up from the feasibility life projection of 2004.

At the Bonte Gold Mines, the only alluvial mine operating in the country, the operations Manager, Douglas Mills said the company has projected an output of 80,000 ounces this year up from 70,000 ounces in 2000.

He said their operations were highly environmental friendly since no chemicals were used and reclamation of vegetation was fast, returning the ecology to its natural status in a relatively short period, compared to other mining activities.

Mr Mills said the company has complied with all EPA demands, provided the necessary development assistance and reserved 70 per cent of workforce engagement for the community.

"As at now, the company has constructed 21 kilometres of power lines through six villages at a cost of 800,000 dollars and have budgeted 169 million cedis for boreholes for five communities, among other things," he added.

The Chairman of the Committee, Sampson Ottu Darko said the committee has been mandated to look at the operations of the mines in their entirety and put in place such legislation, implementation and monitoring, that will ensure appropriate benefits to the nation, the companies and the respective communities."

The Committee would end its tour on Friday.