Mr Andries Havenga, the Project Director, Newmont Ahafo North project in the Ahafo Region has given the assurance the project would improve the socio-economic livelihoods of the local people.

The prospect of the mine has the potential to increase support to the country's revenue generation efforts.

Mr Havenga said this when he interacted with the Journalists for Business Advocacy (JBA) in Sunyani on Monday.

The Ahafo North project covers five major communities including, Yamfo, Adrobaa, Techire, Susuanso and Afrisipakrom in the Tano North Municipality of the region.

With support from the Ghana Chamber of Mines, the JBA led by Sulemana Mustapha, its President is undertaking a two-day visit to the Newmont Ahafo North project, as a follow up to a tour its undertook in September 2022.

According to the Association, the visit was to enable the about eight Journalists from Accra to get themselves abreast with and report on the emerging issues related to the project.

Mr Havenga explained a lot of progress had been made so far for actual mining to commence on the Ahafo North project, despite some certain challenges, saying with the collaboration of an inter-governmental agency set up, the project had been able to tackle the emerging challenges from the local communities.

The project has successfully paid structure compensation which has paved the way for land access, he added.

He said Newmont had voted 850 million US dollars to be invested into the Ahafo project, saying the project had the potential to create 1,800 jobs during construction period, and 550 direct jobs.

Mr Havenga indicated that the project had prioritized gender equality and assured 50 percent gender workforce to inspired more women to go into mining.

Source: Ghana/Sompaonline.com/K.Peprah