The Asantehene, Otumfo Osei Tutu II, has urged Newmont Goldcorp to as part of their social corporate responsibility, prioritise the improvement of socio-economic wellbeing of the people in their operational area.

The need to strengthen the capacities of the youth in employable skills especially in mining, he noted, would not only guarantee a sustainable and economic development of the communities but also enhance peace and harmony in that mining enclave.

The Asantehene said this in a speech read on his behalf by the Akyeamehene, Nana AgyemangBonsu at the signing of a revised Social Responsibility Agreements between Newmont Goldcorp and Newmont Ahafo Development Foundation (NADeF) at Ntotroso in the Ahafo Region.

The agreements which covered three thematic areas include employment, foundation and relationship. The employment agreement spells out guidelines for employing locals within the Ahafo Mine’s host communities, the foundation agreement sets out the terms and conditions under which Newmont Ghana (Ahafo Mines) shall fund the operations of NADeF while the relationship part sets out the understanding reached between the company and the communities to advance sustainable development of the communities.

The Asantehene commended Newmont Ghana for the role it has played in its social corporate responsibility towards the communities it operates and urged them not to rest in their oars.

The Vice President, sustainability and External Relations of Newmont Gold Corp. Adiki O. Ayitevie said after 13years of implementation and achieving significant outcomes the time to build a new Ahafo that reflects the 20^th Century and provides more hope for young people within their operational areas.

She said the company was poised to do things differently to address the increasing unemployment challenges and stakeholder desire for modern infrastructure in the towns in the area

“Through our employment agreement, we are working towards improving our previous commitment of 35 per cent local employment by Newmont and its contractors to 40 per cent and progressively improve to 53 per cent by the next Agreement revision,” she said.

The chief of Kenyasi, Nana Osei Kofi Abbre who represented the five chiefs who signed the agreements said although they were hoping to achieve more during the negotiation they are confident that things would change for the better in the future.