THE General Manager, in charge of Environment and Social Responsibility of Newmont Ghana Gold Limited (Ahafo Mine), Mr Dan V. Michaelson has commended the media for highlighting the role of mining in Ghana's socio-economic development.
He stated that the media, which is the fourth estate of the realm, did not only highlight the contribution of mining to the country's socio-economic development, but had also been balanced, accurate and objective in their reportage.
Mr Michaelson, who said he was a journalist himself, made the commendation at the annual press soirée organised by Newmont, operators of the Ahafo Mine, for media practitioners in the Brong Ahafo Region at Sunyani at the weekend.
He said Newmont considered the media as a crucial partner in its operations and had accounted for the transparency and openness that had underlined their relationship with the media since the company began operations in the Ahafo area of the region about five years ago.
“I am hopeful that this year and the subsequent ones, we will continue along the same line of openness and transparency to ensure that we do not depart from treating our common audience to balanced, accurate and objective reportage,” he stated.
Mr Michaelson announced that Newmont had so far paid a total of $2.2 million to the Newmont Ahafo Development Foundation, being a contribution of one dollar from every ounce of gold sold and one per cent of the company's annual profit from the Ahafo mine.
The money , he said, was being used for various developmental projects in Ahafo such as the construction of teachers’ quarters, classroom blocks, mechanised boreholes, scholarships for students, among others.
The Communication Manager of the company, Mr Agbeko Kwame Azuma gave the assurance that the company would continue to deepen the relationship between it and the media.
He stated that both the media and Newmont had a charge to keep, adding that the company would operate as an ethical business committed to improving the quality of life of the society while the media for its part was expected to provide society with factual, accurate, well-researched and balanced reportage.
Mr Azumah, therefore, pledged that Newmont doors were always open to the media to ensure open and honest communication.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr Ian Motey, expressed the hope that the frankness and openness between the media and the company would continue.
He thanked Newmont for sponsoring the inaugural ceremony of the new GJA executives in the region.
Mr Motey added that plans were under way to hold regional awards for journalists in the region this year and expressed the hope that Newmont would once again sponsor the awards ceremony.
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