The Akwaaba Decline, which will pave way for the expansion of the Chirano underground mine has been inaugurated at Akwaaba in the Western Region.
Mr John Seaward, General Manager of Chirano Gold Mine, performed the ceremony at the week-end.
He announced that, the parent company in Canada was investing over 80 million dollars this year for the establishment of the underground mining operation and the expansion of its process plant capacity.
The capital expansion programme will increase its annual production from 130,000 ounces per year to 250,000 ounces per year.
Mr Seaward said the development of the underground mine opens up yet another million ounces of deposits which would be worked for a period of eight years with a peak of 100,000 tonnes a month.
Mr Peter Amponsah-Mensah, Mining Manager of Chirano Gold Mine, expressed gratitude to the workers and contractors for their co-operation towards the successful execution of the project and was optimistic that it had a brighter future.
He assured that management-worker relationship will be further strengthened with the opening of the decline.
Mr Amponsah-Mensah called on workers to adhere strictly to safety rules and regulations of the mine.