In case of reply the number and date should be quoted
OFFICE OF THE BRONG AHAFO REGIONAL COORDINATING COUNCIL P.O. BOX 104 SUNYANI
WEBSITE: www.barcc.gov.gh EMAIL: barcc.qh@qmail.com TEL: 0352027115123595 FAX: 0352027345127183 Republic of Ghana: J-6 JANUARY, 2018Our Ref No SCR/BA.Q306/ Your Ref. No .
WHITE PAPER ON REPORT OF SEVEN(7)-MEMBER COMMITTEE SET UP TO INVESTIGATE PETITION OF COALITION OF CONCERNEDYOUTH OF FIVE (5) COMMUNITIES AFFECTED BY MINING AGAINST NEWMONT GHANA GOLD LTD (NGGL)
We refer to the Report of a Seven (7) - Member Committee set up to investigate Petition of Coalition of Concerned Youth of five (5) Communities Affected by Mining against Newmont Ghana Gold Ltd (NGGL), which was submitted on 15th December 2017.
We have carefully reviewed the Report and the recommendations made by the Committee and wish to indicate that the Regional Co-ordinating Council is satisfied with the work of the Committee and accept the recommendations of the Committee for implementation.
Consequently, we wish to direct the following actions based on the recommendations of the Committee for your attention and immediate action.
a. Newmont Ghana Gold Ltd (NGGL) i. Newmont Ghana Gold Limited should initiate immediate steps to review the Newmont Ahafo Social Responsibility Agreements to reflect the impact of underground mining in accordance with the provisions laid down in the Agreements. ii. Newmont should take the necessary steps to train local-locals as soon as possible to take advantage of the employment opportunities that will arise from underground mining. iii. NGGL should fully implement provisions in the Newmont Ahafo Social Responsibility Agreements regarding employment with caples of relevant reports submitted to the RCC and the other stakeholders by 31st December, 2018. iv. NGGL should ensure that the number of trainees enrolled in the Learning and Development Apprenticeship Programme should be incorporated into the Newmont Ahafo Social Responsibility Agreements in future negotiations with clear conditions of the Learning and Development Apprenticeship Programme set out and well documented to avoid any future misunderstanding. v. As part of its corporate social responsibility, Newmont should support Vocational Training Institutes within its operational areas as training
centres to develop the necessary skills. An example of such Institutions is the Yamfo Vocational Institute. vi. The Environmental/Social Participatory Monitoring Management Plan as enshrined in Annex 1 of the Relationship Agreement between the Ahafo Mine Community and Newmont Ghana Gold Limited should be fully implemented without any further delay. The Monitoring Team should be reconstituted to conform to the Relationship Agreement. vii. The upgrading of the Kenyasi Health Centre to a District Hospital is very dear to the affected communities, as a result of which the agitations have arisen in that regard, therefore, Newmont should as a matter of extreme importance partner the District Assembly to put up the District Hospital at Kenyasi by 31st December, 2018. viii. Newmont should independently undertake' the construction of legacy projects including the Rehabilitation of Town Roads of the major towns in the catchment area of Newmont. ix. Newmont should set up a scholarship scheme to support indigenes in the affected areas who may be interested in pursuing courses in the mining sector. x. Newmont should not rely on the Forum alone as the only means of engaging with the stakeholders but develop a programme to have quarterly encounters/meetings with individual communities and this Office furnished with copies of correspondences.
Asutifi North District Assembly i. The Assembly should by the end of the 1st Quarter of 2018 constitute an independent technical body to investigate the link, if any, between the blasting activities of NGGL and the cracks developed in buildings in the affected areas. ii. The action initiated by the Assembly as per letter No. ANDA/E.9/VoI.2/71 dated 5th September, 2017, on the subject "Request for independent assessment of alleged exposure to toxicants and environmental contaminants within Newmont Ghana Gold Limited- Ahafo Mine: Human Health Risk Assessment Approach" should be expedited by the 30th April 2018 and copy of the report furnished the Office of the Brong Ahafo Regional Co-ordinating Council. iii. The District Assembly should as a matter of extreme importance partner Newmont to put up the District Hospital at Kenyasi by 31st December, 2018. iv. The Assembly should set up a scholarship scheme to support those indigenes who may be interested in pursuing courses in the mining sector to enable them to take advantage of the local opportunities.
The Coalition of Concerned Youth of Five (5) Affected by Mining i. The leadership and members of the Coalition should desist from making unfounded and unsubstantiated allegations which impugn wrongdoing against Newmont and its sub-contractors in the award of contracts. ii. Leaders should educate and encourage interested members of the communities to pursue relevant courses relating to the mining industry to enable them to take full advantage of the local opportunities offered by Newmont Ghana Gold Ltd. iii. The leadership of the Concerned Youth should take all the necessary steps to be rightfully elected members of the structured Youth Associations in the catchment areas of the operations of NGGL. This will enable them to channel their grievances, should any arise, through laid down channels of communications as enshrined the Ahafo Social Responsibility Agreements.
We, therefore, refer the above directives to you for your immediate e implementation.
We hope to count on your co-operation in this regard.
Thank you.
HON. DISTRICT CHIEF EXECUTIVE
ASUTIFI NORTH DISTRICT ASSEMBLY KENYASI
GENERAL MANAGER
NEWMONT GHANA GOLD LTD
AHAFO MINES KENYASI
THE CONVENER
COALITION OF CONCERNED YOUTH OF COMMUNITIES AFFECTED BY MINING KENYASI
NANANOM:
KENYASI NO.1 KENYASI NO.2 NTOTROSO GYEDU WAMAHINSO
No comments:
Post a Comment