With the passing of the Managing Director of the Precious Mineral Marketing Commission (PMMC) Mr. Opare Hammond, the Deputy Managing Director, Venance Dey has assured the public, structures are in place for the business to thrive despite the demise of their leader.

He noted before he travelled abroad and dying upon his return, Mr. Hammond had run a system which allowed for continuity to ensure the core business of the commission went unhindered.

Mr. Hammond passed away on Friday January, 11 at the Korle Bu Teaching hospital after falling ill and getting transferred from the Airport Clinic, where his condition had become worse. Mr. Opare Hammond became the first Member of Parliament for the Adentan Constituency following the separation from the Ashaiman Constituency.

The one-time New Patriotic Party Director of Finance and Administration was appointed Managing Director of the Precious Mineral Marketing Commission in 2017 and is credited with partnering the Ghana Royal Gold Limited Company to construct a state-owned gold refinery which is expected to create 1000 jobs this year.

He however has had a checkered relationship with Ghana Mine Workers Union who accuse him of procurement breaches, intimate affair with female staff, arbitrary pay rise and employing staff without recourse to laid down procedure eventually claiming on President Nana Akufo-Addo to sack him and dissolve the board.

The Precious Minerals Marketing Company (PMMC) Ltd was established in 1963 to purchase and market Ghana’s diamonds before bearing its current name, thanks to PNDC Law 219 in 1989.