Accra, Aug 4, GNA- Vice President John Dramani Mahama on Thursday commended Goldfields International for their capacity building programmes for all indigenous companies engaged in the gold industry.

"We are also grateful for your immense contribution towards the succ= ess story of Ghana Black Stars in global football."

Vice President Mahama gave this commendation when three Board members of Goldfield International called on him at the Castle, Osu.

The members, who are currently holding their international board meeting in Accra, took time to interact with government officials and to fine-tune some of their business engagements with Ghanaian companies.

Vice President Mahama said their support to indigenous mining companie= s in the area of technical know-how was phenomenal and therefore needed further cooperation to empower the smaller companies in the industry.

He said Goldfields Ghana's support to Ghana over the years had boost= ed government's revenue diversification programme and called for further collaboration that would enhance government's 93Better Ghana Agenda".

Vice President Mahama said in spite of Ghana's recent discovery of o= il and gas, government would continue to pursue other areas especially in the agriculture sector to have a diversified economy.

Dr Maphela Ramphele, Board Chairperson of Goldfields International, said both Ghana and South Africa had embarked on an exchange programme, where staff from the two subsidiaries sharpened their skills and expertise based on where they had comparative advantage.

The other members of the group included; Nicholas John Holland, Chief Executive Officer of Goldfields International and Peter Turner, Goldfields, West Africa, and Managing Director of Goldfields, Ghana.