Gold Fields to produce 800,000 ounces of gold this year
Gold Fields Ghana has targeted to produce 800,000 ounces of gold from its two mining operations, Tarkwa and Damang, by the close of the year.
Out of the proceeds to accrue from the company’s operations, it also expects to contribute about $320 million into the economy.
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These will be made up of corporate taxes, dividend to government and Pay-As-You-Go (PAYE).
Gold Fields, one of the most formidable gold mining companies in the country contributed the same amount to national development last year.
Corporate taxes and royalties amounted to $244 million, dividend to government was $48.2 million while that of PAYE was $28 million.
The acting Executive Vice President and Head of Gold Fields West Africa, Mr Joshua Mortoti, disclosed this in an interview with the Graphic Business shortly after the company engaged a cross-section of the media following the visit of the Chief Executive Officer of Goldfields, Mr Chris Griffith, to Ghana.
“We have demonstrated our commitment to do good business in the country. Since our entry into Ghana, we have, and will always abide the country’s regulations while contributing to the socio-economic development of the people,” he said.
Employee development
Earlier during his presentation, Mr Mortoti too steps to explain the value placed on the company’s employees as a way of continually improving their skills to deliver the best for the company and the country at large.
For instance, he said over $14. 5 million have been invested in employee development and training.
“The training programmes are tailored to suit the specific needs of each employee to improve their skills and develop their potential.
These include areas such as leadership and management development programmes, professional training, technical and artisanal training, induction and awareness training as well as coaching and mentoring,” he said.
Mr Mortoti said not only does the company invest in the continual skills training and development of its staff but also provides a safe and healthy working environment for them.
Shared values
With regards to its contribution to the development of the communities in which the company operates, he said through the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation, a total of $84 million has been invested to date in host communities.
In the area of education, he said over 2,000 scholarships were given to the youth while there was also support for graduate trainee programmes. The company established libraries and constructed Information and Communication Technology (ICT) centres for the people.
Again, community youth and apprenticeship programmes were also organised.
On health, Mr Mortoti said the company also upgraded the Huni-Valley Health Centre and donated three ambulances to Takwa hospitals and UMaT. It also engaged and continue to engage in medical outreach programmes for the people.
With regards to infrastructure, he said the company built the 33 kilometre Tarkwa-Damang road which has served many purposes including the easy carting of food from the hinterlands to market centres for sale.
“The road project has brought a lot of relief to the people, particularly farmers whose farm produce were not getting to the market centres for sale”, he added.
He said there has been support for youth in horticulture production while embarking on a cocoa input support programme where farmers were provided with farm inputs to help improve yields.
Support for accident victims
Touching on support for the victims of the Appiatse disaster, the CEO of Gold Fields, Mr Chris Griffith, expressed the sympathies of the company to the families of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
“Our hearts are with you as a country and we are ready to lend support to help alleviate the pain of the people”, he said.
So far he said some support has been extended to people of the affected community while plans are afoot to release more funds to support them.
“We are working with our chamber, the Chamber of Mines, to offer a more coordinated support for the people”, he said.