Mr. Paul Victor Obeng,Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission on Friday commended management of the Ahafo Project of Newmont Ghana Gold Limited at Kenyasi in the Asutifi District for the measures initiated to ensure safety in the mines.
“The numerous warning signals erected within the mine take communities and along the major road to the plant sites, as well as warning triangles are very laudable to control accidents”, he said.
Mr. Obeng asked other mining companies in the country to emulate Newmont and help to ensure safety at their sites and the communities
within their catchment areas.
He was interacting with more than 100 managers and senior staff of the company from Accra, Akyem and the Ahafo site during the 2011
Africa Summit of NGGL at Kenyasi Number one.
The two-day summit was aimed at inculcating in the participants the safety culture in their operations.
Mr. Obeng noted with concern that even though the extractive industry played a critical role in the economy of Ghana, there was the
need to also address problems that posed a threat to the lives of the local communities.
He advised the managers to exhibit sound leadership skills and qualities to inspire their subordinates to gain the confidence of the
expatriate staff at the mine.
Mr. Obeng advised Ghanaian workers at the mine to respect time and authority so as to sustain the interest of their employers.
Mr. Adrian Van Kersen, Regional Senior Vice President for Operations of NGGL said it was the duty of the company to ensure that all contractors and employees worked without any fatalities.
This, he said, could be done if they were periodically brought together and educated on some fundamental safety issues.
“Mining is normally associated with a number of accidents and there is the need to ensure that our cherished staff work in an accident-free area”, Mr. Kersen added.