Former President John Dramani Mahama has committed to revitalise AngloGold Ashanti, concentrating on job prospects for Obuasi locals and host towns to boost the local economy.
He made this pledge during a meeting with traditional leaders in Adansi as part of his broad stakeholder engagement visit in the Ashanti region.
Mr. Mahama also promised to revitalise an abandoned industrial cluster, emphasising its origins as a result of staff layoffs during a stop in operations at the gold mine.
He also refuted allegations of impeding AngloGold Ashanti’s operations throughout his tenure, emphasising his support for projects like as the Obuasi Deep Decline, which was launched to improve operations at the gold mine.
The former president also underscored his role in the establishment of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Obuasi campus, during his tenure, promising comprehensive measures to drive regional development.
“In countries with mineral extraction, development often follows. South Africa, for instance, has witnessed positive changes due to mining. We aim to leverage the benefits of mining in Adansi and neighbouring communities for their development,” he said.
Addressing concerns about electoral violence and fatalities during the 2020 elections, the NDC flagbearer expressed regrets and assured traditional leaders of the NDC’s commitment to fostering peace in the forthcoming 2024 elections.
“We are peaceful people as NDC, and we hope and promise that there will be no violence or deaths in the 2024 elections. It is rather unfortunate that lives were lost in the 2020 general elections. We promise a party to abide by the rules governing the elections to ensure a peaceful 2024 process. I would also plead with traditional authorities to engage the other political parties for a peaceful election,” the flagbearer of NDC assured.