The Chief Executive of Gold Fields, Chris Griffith has reiterated the mining firm’s commitment to continue to contribute to the development of Ghana.
He said the company was committed to sustaining its operations to create value for stakeholders including the government and host communities.
Speaking during a media engagement held in Accra on Wednesday, he said, the mining firm last year contributed an amount of $320.2 million towards national development.
Giving the breakdown, he said, payment of corporate taxes and royalties amounted to $244 million, dividend $48.2 million and Pay as You End (PAYE) $28 million.
Throwing more light on the company’s investment, he said, Gold Fields Ghana Foundation had since 2004 invested $84 million in socio-economic development of host communities.
The Foundation works Mr Griffith said, cut across education, infrastructure, agriculture, water and sanitation sectors.
On the protection of the environmental especially in the area of decarbonisation, he said Gold Fields planned to significantly reduce emission by the year 2030.
Gold Fields added that it will also “work with its peers in the Ghana Chamber of Mines to provide collective support to the community of Appiatse.”
Gold Fields Ghana has mobilised a number of resources, including tents, food and equipment to support the relief activities on the ground.
Mr Joshua Mortoti, Acting Executive Vice President, Gold Fields West Africa said the company was ready to support responsible mining activities in the country.
To this end, he said, the mining company had ceded part of its concession in support of small scale mining.
“We are willing to support small scale mining. We are ready to work with the Chamber of Mines to develop the framework on how to support responsible mining,” he said.
Gold Fields, he said, would not support mining activities that negatively impact the environment.
On investment, he said, the company was in discussion to invest about $ 500 million into its Ghana’s operations.
The reinvestment, he said, would go into the company’s Damang Mines to extend its life from the current three years to at least 10 years.