The Management of Gold Fields Ghana Limited (GFGL), Tarkwa mine, has made it clear that it would not cede or give part of its concession in support of the government’s flagship programme, Community Mining.
According to the company, it was responsible and answerable for its actions as a company, and there is no way it would cede part of its concession in support of small-scale mining.
Mrs. Catherine Kuupol Kuutor, Tarkwa Mine Manager, in answer to this reporter at a media interaction in Tarkwa, on Wednesday, made it explicitly clear that “As a company, we will not lease or give part of our concession for small-scale mining.”
The position of the mine on the subject, however, settles the growing calls by residents of Brahabobome, one of the host communities of the Tarkwa Mine, to give way for an abandoned pit located in the area to be turned into community mining.
The Tarkwa Mine Manager, also made it clear that Gold Fields has given out 85% of the mine on contract with the company, executing only 15% owner mining.
Hailing the decision to go into contract mining, Catherine Kuupol Kuutor, who was recently elevated to the position as first woman Mine Manager, said the decision was in the best interest of the company.
This is because it has saved the mine capital what it would hitherto have invested in the mine. These investments, she said, have been channelled into other profitable ventures.
The media interaction saw journalists tour the mine site, particularly the company’s tailings dam site.
Nathaniel Asifu Mensah, Tailings Unit Manager, tutored journalists on Tailings Management and Responsibilities.
Chris Debrah, Senior Manager on Environment and Laboratories gave an insight into the mine Environmental Management.
Abdel-Razak Yakubu, Executive Secretary of the Gold Fields Foundation, also took journalists through the company’s CSI and shared value.
