Adamus Resources, a subsidiary of Endeavour Mining Corporation, the operators of the Nzema Gold Project in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region, has assured its stakeholders in the district of its commitment to ethical and sustainable operations.
It said the new world mining order required mining companies such as Adamus to embrace ethical and sustainability issues and create an environment that was conducive for communities long after the mining operations had been closed down.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, Mr Kofi Adusei, the Corporate Social Responsibility Manager of Adamus, said therefore that there was no tension between the company and the people of Anwia as being speculated.
Community engagement
Mr Adusei said the company’s engagement with the community was as a result of complaints by some residents to discuss the impact of the mining activities on some of their structures but not to discuss resettlement of the people of Anwia.
The Anwia community, Mr Adusei said, had supported the mine from its inception and the company had always had cordial relations with the chief and people of the community.
“I must say that there is no standoff between the community and Adamus and the mine is still operational,” he said.
Mr Adusei said it had been agreed with all stakeholders to ensure that “Adamus Resources orients and modulates its pit blasting activities so as to reduce its impact on the adjoining Anwia community.”
At the stakeholders engagement, which was organised by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and attended by officials of Adamus, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Minerals Commission, Chamber of Mines, 45 people from Anwia and their chief, the chief and elders of Teleku-Bokazo as well as the DCE of Ellembelle, a roadmap was agreed on to ensure smooth operations.
The complaint
He said when some members of the community living beyond the agreed buffer area of the mine complained about the impact of the blasting, the company took it seriously and carried out its own investigation.
“In as much as our mining vibration levels and noise are within the EPA permitted limits, the company has employed additional measures to mitigate mining impact on the community by reducing blasting of the bench height from 9.0m to 6.0m to lessen the magnitude of ground vibration and air over pressure levels.
Additionally, the company will introduce increase surface delays mechanism in the blast initiation systems to control blasting sequence and thus reduce ground vibration, air over pressure and also control fly rocks,” he said.
“We will also discontinue using detonating cords in pre-split blasting and resort to excel shock tubes with surface delays, and rounds connected in batches of three holes per delay to ensure adequate reduction in ground vibration and air over pressure,” he said.
Mr Adusei said the company would also reduce blast size from 350 holes per blast to 280 holes with a plan to split the 350 holes per blast into two smaller size blasts of 200 and 150 holes.
Stronger bond
“In an increasingly interconnected world, social and environmental governance issues are no longer just ‘soft’ business issues but rather integral material matters which incorporates all stakeholders input for the long-term viability of the business.
These principles have been the fulcrum of the company’s social and environmental strategy that has enabled the company to form stronger bonds with the whole Nzemamanle,” he said.
Minerals Commission
The Chief Executive of Minerals Commission, Dr Toni Aubynn, said the pit had not been closed down as was reported. “What we agreed on was that since there was an issue – the community was claiming one thing and the mine was also saying another, there was the need for independent technical team to look at the issues and report to all stakeholders so that we can find a comprehensive solution.”
He said from their discussion, it was clear that the community had had a good relationship with the company, but what had to be done was to ensure continuous interactions and engagements.
“We have asked both sides to work together and mend the current relationship while we walk toward the end of the road map set for the future relationship; the social licence is not an event but a continuous process,” he said.
No tension
The head of District Security Council (DISEC), Mr Daniel K. Eshun, who is the District Chief Executive of Ellembele, said there was no tension and that all parties involved had committed themselves to working in peace.
He said Adamus in the area had not only been working as a company with interests in making profit but as a development partner. “In the past, we have their support in the district and Anwia specifically in the areas of health, education, scholarships and they are currently building a 40,000 Litre water facility for the community.
