AngloGold Ashanti Observes World Environment Day

AngloGold Ashanti (Obuasi Mines), in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Forestry Commission, commemorated the 2024 World Environment Day with a presentation of awards to senior high school students who participated in this year’s inter-school quiz and debate competition.

The competition, which saw Apagya SHS and Asare Bediako SHS showcase compelling arguments and critical thinking, was won by Asare Bediako SHS. The awards included screen projectors, laptops, tablets, World Environment Day branded exercise books, and other learning equipment.

The annual event, instituted in 1973, aims to create awareness about environmental issues and is celebrated on June 5 every year. This year’s theme was “Land Restoration, Desertification, and Drought Resilience”, emphasizing the importance of restoring healthy lands, preventing desertification, and managing water shortages for a sustainable future.

Mr. George Owusu Ansah, Senior Manager of Environmental Affairs at AngloGold Ashanti, emphasized the company’s commitment to land restoration, which aligns with their objective of making degraded lands beneficial to the Obuasi community. He stressed the importance of collaboration with EPA, Nananom, and other stakeholders in doing this.

“Guided by our purpose statement of empowering people and advancing societies, our priority as a Mine and sustainability of land use options for reclaimed areas underpin every effort to return lands back to the communities in which we operate, under our Fit for Purpose Reclamation Programme. At a minimum, our reclamation process has always involved stakeholders such as Regulators, Nananom, Assembly members and Local Government Authorities through the Closure Consultative Committees (CCC).”

“Through this process, we have successfully reclaimed a non-operational 30-year-old Boete Tailings footprint , and we are ready to release some 123 hectares of land for community settlement and industrial site development. The Boete lands, once affected by mining operations, now boasts of demarcated plots with electricity and water supply infrastructure, and to be integrated into the Obuasi Community and Economic development.
Additionally, in a remarkable feat of environmental stewardship, the Obuasi Mine has restored the Eaton Turner Shaft (ETS) to its former glory.”

Also, Mrs. Mavis Nana Yaa Kyei, Head of Social Development and Gender Superintendent at AngloGold Ashanti, highlighted the importance of organizing the quiz and debate competition to educate students about environmental issues and encourage them to become ambassadors for environmental protection.

“The quiz and debate competition was based on the motion to fight against desertification, land pollution, water pollution, afforestation, etc and enlighten the students on how to be the ambassadors of the land since they are the future generation. Also, we will be very committed to help since AGA is still in operation under our 10-year Socio Economic Development Plan Agenda (SEDP).”

In his remarks, the Head of the Environmental Protection Agency (Obuasi), Mr. Prempeh Adarkwah Yiadom cautioned Ghanaians to rally together to fight, defend and protect the land for future generations. He believes this can only be done through collective efforts as there is a looming threat of climate catastrophe in our country.

Mr. Prempeh further disclosed that, there is the need to embark on a profound journey towards a greener future amidst challenges such as illegal and irresponsible mining, reckless use of agrochemicals, unsustainable farming practices and encroachment on the forest and nature reserves.

Nana Abu Bonsra, Odikro of Bossman Community in Obuasi, expressed concern about the environmental menace caused by human activities, leading to hunger and poverty. He emphasized the need for collective action to protect the remaining lands and resources for future generations.

“My deepest concern is that, we can all come together to solve this problem. The remaining lands and other resources needs to be protected for future generations. There is still hope to control all this unwanted environmental damage for the next generation and the future,” he lamented.

AngloGold Ashanti is known for its large-scale mining operations and significant gold production, making it one of the world’s leading gold producers. The company claims to focus on sustainable mining practices and community engagement, aiming to create long-term value for stakeholders.

Story by Johnson Owusu Aduomi