Galamsey Poses Substantial Threat to Our Operations- AngloGold Ashanti

AngloGold Ashanti Ghana Limited has identified illegal mining popularly known as galamsey as a significant threat to both large-scale and small-scale mining.

As a result, the company is seeking avenues to resolve it.

At the Manhyia Palace on January 24, 2025, Stewart Bailey, the Chief Sustainability Officer and Corporate Affairs, said AGA was engaging stakeholders for a lasting solution.

“Illegal Mining as opposed to artisanal mining is a substantial threat to large-scale mining and small-scale mining alike in Ghana and on the continent and it is something that we are very eager to continue to engage with stakeholders to find a lasting solution that will be acceptable to the widest range of stakeholders possible.”

This, he indicated, cannot be effectively achieved without the involvement of the Asantehene.

“Your Majesty, we seek your support. We thank you for your support this far.”

Support
The King expressed his readiness to assist the company in whatever means possible to find a solution to the recurring trend.

“You can count on my support any time.”

Proposed Solutions
The Asantehene in his remarks proposed some measures to deal with the constant invasion and disapproval of the community folks.

His Majesty suggested enhanced community relations.
“Your community relations must be heightened so that they will have a clear understanding of what you are doing. Make them understand your operations and the flow of revenue and royalties chain so that they don’t think the money is there to develop Obuasi overnight.”

He also proposed that they adopt Newmont Ghana Gold Limited’s Corporate Social Responsibility strategy which entails allotting US$1 per ounce of gold sold and 1% of net profit from the Ahafo Mine into a Community Development Fund for sustainable community development.

This, he said, comes alongside the royalties and can be used to build schools, hospitals, roads etc.

“Another thing you have to look at when full-scale production resumes is the form of what Newmont is doing where you set aside a part of an ounce in the form of money and then form a development foundation together with the community and you engage them to decide the developmental projects to use that fund for.

“Newmont has done it and it has been very successful. Make sure you involve the community in some form of foundation where you plan development programmes together. Let them nominate some people from the community who will be part of that.”

The King believes that the community folks will be more appreciative of the company and its activities if these are adopted.

Courtesy Call
The Management of AngloGold Ashanti Ghana Limited were at the Manhyia Palace on January 24, 2025, to brief Otumfuo on the recent shootout at the Obuasi mine.

Among the delegation were Ambassador Baso Sangqu, the SVP Group Sustainability and Corporate Affairs; ⁠Terry Strong, the SVP Africa; and ⁠Eric Asubonteng, the SVP Africa Non-Operates Joint Venture.

The rest were ⁠Emmanuel Baidoo, the Snr Manager of Community Relations in Africa, ⁠Edmund Oduro Agyei, the Community Relations Manager, ⁠Keziah Enyan, the Communications specialist and ⁠Emmanuel Massey, the Supt Stakeholder Engagement.

Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini