Welcome to the Official Website for The Ghana Chamber of Mines.

The Chamber of Mines is the peak minerals industry association in Ghana. The Chamber represents the collective interests of companies involved in mineral exploration, production and processing in Ghana. Its activities are entirely funded by its member companies, which produce over 90 per cent of the nation's mineral output [ more ]

   

NEWMONT GHANA GOLD LIMITED PAYS FIRST QUARTER 2008 ROYALTIES
On 17th April 2008, Newmont Ghana Gold Limited the company paid US$2,909,213.88 to the Ghana Internal Revenue Service’s Large Tax Office in Accra. This represents royalty payment for the first quarter (January – March), 2008 for the Ahafo operation.

MINING FIRM TO INVEST IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Newmont Ghana Gold Limited and communities within its catchment area in the Brong –Ahafo Region have signed an agreement under which Newmont will invest part of its income in sustainable development projects in the area. Known as the Ahafo Social Responsibility Agreement (ASRA), it obliges the company to commit one dollar per ounce of gold sold and another one percent of its net profit from the Ahafo Mine into a community development fund. The agreement was signed by the paramount chiefs of the area and officials of the Tano North and Asutifi District assemblies on one hand and the management of the company on the other. Already a total of 687,689 dollars that have accrued to the fund will be administered by the Newmont Ahafo Development Foundation. The agreement takes effect from this month. Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Chris Anderson, the Director of Corporate and External Affairs of Newmont, said contemporary business practices places a moral responsibility on companies to improve the quality of life of local communities and society at large. He said the benefits of social responsibility cut across the divide in that corporations benefit in multiple ways by operating with perspective profits while the communities tend to derive diverse socio-economic dividends from such activities. ‘Newmont appreciates social responsibility very much as part of its business ethics and has largely contributed to our reputation as the world’s leading gold company.’ Dr. Anderson said. Professor D. Mireku – Gyimah, who moderated the agreement, said it comprised of three components, namely the relationship agreement, employment agreement and foundation agreement. He said what ASRA seeks to do is to provide infrastructure, social amenities, protect natural resources, support cultural heritage and develop the human resource base of citizens within the catchment area. The Brong – Ahafo Regional Minister, Ignatius Baffour Awuah, advised all parties to respect and implement the agreement devoid of litigations.

GOVERNMENT TO CLEAR HURDLES IN MINING SECTOR
A high powered task force is being set up by the government with the view to finding solutions to problems confronting the mining sector. The task force will also seek a new paradigm for the mining sector to make it better suited to the national development agenda, as well as help to erase the erroneous perceptions among the public that mining companies are exploitative and contributing little in real terms to the economy. The decision to set up the task force was the outcome of a meeting that was held by President J.A Kufuor with members of the Ghana Chamber of Mines in Accra. The meeting, which was characterised by frank but friendly discussions, went into a closed – door session after the initial opening statements. The task force is expected to comprise representatives of the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Lands, Forestry and Mines, Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Harbours and Railways, National Security, Ghana Minerals Commission, the Ghana Chamber of Mines and the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GPIC). Some of the issues discussed at the meeting, and which would form the basis for the work of the task force were illegal mining (popularly called galamsey), environmental concerns, railway network, fiscal regime, energy and revenue. Addressing the opening session, President Kufuor said the mining sector, which was very critical to the national economy, was perceived as one of the vestiges of colonialism. He underscored the need for mining companies to shed those perceived colonial legacies by ensuring that they were seen as Ghanaian business entities. President Kufuor said the country needed the mining companies, just as they also needed the nation, and therefore the relationship between the two partners should be a win-win one. He assured the mining companies that they should continue their operations knowing that the government was a dependable partner, while the government also regarded them as very vital to the national economy. The President of the Ghana of Mines, Mr Jurgen Eijgendaal, said it was a welcome development that both policy makers and the business community sat down to address critical issues confronting the mining sector. In an interaction with Journalists the end of the meeting, Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, said deliberations would be held to determine the specific people who would constitute the task force by the end of the week. For his part, Mr Andrew Awuni the Press Secretary to the President and Presidential spokesman said the new initiative by the President was intended to deepen public involvement in the mining sector and remove the perception about mining companies and their activities. The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Ms. Joyce Aryee, said the perception that mining companies were exploitative and their operations did not fully benefit the economy was wrong and underscored the need to remove the perception and manage the expectations of the people well.




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Implementing and Auditing the International Management Code

 

The International Cyanide Management Institute (ICMI) will be conducting a Workshop on Implementing and Auditing the International Cyanide Management Code (Code) in Accra, Ghana on Thursday, October 25, 2007.

 

This one-day Workshop, sponsored jointly by ICMI and the Ghana Chamber of Mines, is intended to assist gold mining companies, cyanide producers and transporters, and other stakeholders in their understanding of the Code’s expectations for the responsible management of cyanide and instruct auditors verifying Code compliance on how to evaluate gold mines, cyanide producers and cyanide transporters and make their findings.

 

This Workshop comes at a critical time in the implementation of the Code.  The number of signatories companies has nearly doubled from the initial 15 that committed to implement the Code in November 2005.  Today, the 29 signatory companies represent 103 operations in 23 countries, more than a third of which are in Africa.  This first ICMI training Workshop to be held in West Africa provides an opportunity for African operators to learn about the Code first-hand, and to discuss in person those issues of greatest importance to them with ICMI officials.  It also gives potential Code auditors a chance to gain the insight into the procedural and interpretive aspects of the Code that will make them effective Code auditors.

 

The Workshop

The focus of the Workshop will be on the practical issues associated with implementing and auditing the Code.  The intent of each of the Code’s Principles and Standards of Practice will be discussed, along with the Code’s expectations for performance and the measures typically necessary to achieve that performance.  Interpretive guidance will be provided on how auditors are to use their professional judgment in determining whether an operation is in compliance with the Code.  The Workshop will provide participants with the critical knowledge and understanding of the Code necessary to identify appropriate and acceptable measures to improve cyanide management and meet the Code’s performance-based goals.

 

The Workshop is intended for stakeholders in the gold mining industry interested in the implementation and verification of the International Cyanide Management Code.  Gold miners, environmental and safety managers, cyanide producers and transporters, government regulatory personnel, and NGOs with interest in gold mining should all find the Workshop beneficial in enhancing their understanding of this voluntary gold industry code of practice.

 

The Workshop will be of particular importance to gold mining company personnel whose companies have signed the Code or are considering becoming Code signatories, and to current and potential Code auditors.  Companies implementing the Code will learn about the on-the ground control measures and the management plans and procedures necessary to meet the Code’s Principles and Standards of Practice.  Auditors will gain insight in applying Audit Protocol questions to situations in the field, and preparation of acceptable audit reports.  Although ICMI does not require that Code auditors attend its Workshops, the information presented and the opportunity for questions and answers will be invaluable for potential Code auditors.

 

The Speaker

The Workshop will be conducted by Norm Greenwald, Vice President of the International Cyanide Management Institute.  Mr. Greenwald was the Code Manager during the program’s development, and worked with the Code’s mulit-stakeholder Steering Committee in drafting the Code and its supporting procedural and technical documents.  He currently oversees the Code’s auditing and certification process.

 

The Venue

The Workshop will be held at the M-Plaza Hotel in Accra, Ghana.  Hotel reservations must be made through the Workshop registration.  For information on the M-Plaza Hotel, please visit the hotel web site, http://www.mplaza-hotel.com/location.html.

 

The Program

 

I.          Code Background and Overview                                                              8:30 - 9:45

·         Development of the Code

·         Code Overview

·         Auditing the Code

·         Audit Findings

·         Reporting

 

Break                            9:45 - 10:00

 

II.          Implementation and Auditing of the Code at Gold Mines                          10:00 - 12:00

·         General Guidance for Interpreting the Verification Protocol

·         Detailed Discussion of Standards of Practice 1-4

·         Code Expectations

·         Verification

 

Lunch                            12:00 - 1:00

 

III.      Implementation and Auditing of the Code at Gold Mines     1:00 - 3:00

 

·         Detailed Discussion of Standards of Practice 5-9

·         Code Expectations

·         Verification

 

Break                      3:30 - 3:45

 

IV.        Transportation Audits                                                                                3:45 - 4:30

·         Interpreting the Transport Verification Protocol

·         Role of Consignor

 

V.         Questions and Answers                  4:30 - 5:00

 

 

 

 

 

Registration Form

International Cyanide Management Institute Code Implementation and Auditing Workshop

Registration Fee

 

Registration is US$500 per person, and includes the Workshop and materials, a banquet Wednesday night, lodging at the M-Plaza Hotel Wednesday and Thursday nights, and lunch on Thursday.  Registration for the Workshop and banquet without lodging is US$250.

 

˛   Full Registration - $500          ˛   Workshop & Banquet Only - $250

 

Participant Registration Information

 

Name                                                                                                                                       

Title                                                                                                                                         

Company                                                                                                                                

Address                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                 

City                                                    State/Province                                                            

Postal Code                                            Country                                                                  

Phone                                                                Fax                                                                

E-mail                                                                                                                                       

 

Affiliation:

 

˛ Gold Mining Company

˛ Cyanide Producer

˛ Cyanide Transporter

˛ Professional Auditor

˛ Consultant

˛ Association

˛ Government

˛ Other (Please Specify)                                                                                         

Note:  A separate registration form is required for each participant

Payment Information

 

Registration will not be processed without payment in US$.  The cancellation date is Friday, October 19, 2007.  Registered participants will receive an e-mail confirmation.

 

1) Credit Card             ˛ Visa               ˛ Master Card                     ˛ American Express

ICMI is authorized to charge the credit card below for ICMI Workshop fee in the amount of US$______.

 

Card #                                                                       Expiration Date                                    

Cardholder’s Name                                                                                                               

Address (if different from Participant)                                                                               

                                                                                                                                                 

Cardholder’s Signature                                                                                                        

(Required to process payment)

 

Registration with a credit card will be accepted until 16:00, UTC on Friday, October 19.

 

2) Check/Money Order Enclosed ˛

Please make payable to International Cyanide Management Institute in US$ only.

 

3) Wire Transfer ˛   (Please include bank fee charge in your payment.)

 

Please send the form and payment to:

 

Email: registration@cyanidecode.org

Fax: +1-202-835-0155

Mail:       International Cyanide Management Institute

               1200 G Street, NW, Suite 800

               Washington, DC 20005  USA

               Phone: +1-202-661-3525

 

No mail-in registrations received after the close of business on Friday, October 19, will be accepted.

 

NB: Ghana based participants should register directly with the Ghana Chamber of Mines:

Tel: +233 21 761893/760652

Fax: +233 21 760653

Email: info@ghanachamberofmines.org / chamber@ghanachamines.com.gh

 

 



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