The Ahafo underground mining project owned by Newmont Ghana will commence in 2013-14. The mine is located in Kenyasi, the capital of the Asutifi District in the Brong Ahafo Region, Ghana. The project is part of the Subika mine site.
Newmont Ghana hopes to increase its annual gold production to 1.2 million ounces by 2014. External Affairs Manager of the Company Mr Kojo Bedu-Addo said that this would be easy to achieve after they begin their underground operations.
Agbeko Azumah the Communication Manager of Ahafo Mines, Newmont Ghana said the company had sent a draft Environmental Impact Statement to the Environmental Protection Agency for its endorsement to execute the underground project.
At present the mine is restricted to surface mining and produces between 500,000 and 550,000 ounces of gold on a yearly basis. It employs close to 4,000 Ghanaians and has set up a fund to help people in the area become more self-reliant to empower the community. The Ahafo Subika Underground Project would contribute significantly to the company's strategic goal to produce seven million ounces of gold globally by 2017.
Mr. Azumah alia Zupee said that the Newmont Ghana company had also created a range of policies and procedures to resettle and compensate people for losses suffered. He added that prudent practices and environmental measures that the company upheld would be used in the management of the Subika Project.