Establish lasting projects in host communities • Mines told
The Mining Manager of the Chirano Goldfields Company Limited in the Bibiani-Anwhiaso District in the Western Region, Mr Stephen Apore Agyeman, has urged mining companies to put up projects in host communities that would keep them active even after the mines have ceased to exist.
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He said the projects must be such that they would leave lasting impressions on the minds of the inhabitants.
Mr Agyeman, who is also the Chairman of the technical committee of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, suggested a special hospital that could promote medical tourism and a tertiary institution as examples that could pass off as legacies.
He was speaking on the topic "Mining and Mining Communities: The Future”, at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) in Tarkwa. He said even though mining companies did undertake corporate social responsibility programmes in communities in which they operated, the idea was meant to boost economy activities in the communities rather than being a one-off occurrence.
"A project that would serve as a monument is more likely to be maintained and become an add-on to other projects the mines may leave behind. Such undertaking may seem huge but pales into nothing when matched against the pain of social unrests and the joy of having contributed to the development of a once remote society,"he said.
According to him, it was a more strategic and aggressive way to open up mining communities for growth, as projects of exceptional achievement would serve to provide alternative livelihood for the people and reduce pressure on the mine.
Funding
He suggested that because of huge outlays involved in coming up with such projects, the mines could involve private partners in their construction lobby for reduction in royalty payment or ask for a cut in taxes in order that the projects could be adequately sponsored.
On the other hand, he said the mines could also consider diminishing the spread of their social intervention projects and concentrate on the one big project. He said, if necessary, the gold endowment funds set up by the mines could be a ready source of funding.
He said the criteria for a lasting project should include its ability to attract patronage and durability that would outlive the mines.
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Professor J.S.Y Kuma, described Mr Agyeman’s address as a masterpiece which the university would have to take note of and keep as a document.