In alignment with the government’s District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP), the partnership aims to deliver lasting, impactful road improvements that will uplift the quality of life for thousands of residents across the district.

Under the partnership, Asanko Gold will leverage its resources to complement the efforts of the Assembly under the DRIP to improve road access in host communities through regular maintenance and reshaping.

The company will supply regular diesel fuel to support the operations of the Assembly’s road maintenance machinery, in addition to providing logistical support where feasible, including transportation of materials and community mobilization efforts.

“We believe good roads help drive development, hence our commitment to invest in this cause,” said Dr. Daniel Twumasi, Environment and Sustainability Manager at Asanko Gold Ghana.

“We acknowledge with deep concern the deteriorated condition of our community roads. It is therefore a privilege to join hands with the government DRIP program through partnership with the District Assembly. Asanko remains committed to being a responsible corporate partner in building the resilience of the communities we operate in,” said Dr. Twumasi.

The Amansie South District is home to a number of rural communities whose socio-economic development is hampered by poor road infrastructure. Most of the feeder and community roads are unpaved, poorly maintained, and become impassable during the rainy season, limiting access to essential services such as health care, education, and markets.

Strengthening the rural infrastructure development will therefore promote sustainable corporate social responsibility initiatives with measurable community impact.

District Chief Executive, Benjamin Marfo, noted the partnership represents a significant opportunity to leverage private sector support to enhance public infrastructure.

Chief of Nkran, Nana Danso Poku, who is also the Manso Nkwanta Paramount Chief’s Nkosuhene, commended the Asanko Gold and the local assembly for the initiative.

“We appreciate the developmental projects of Asanko Gold in our communities. The company has already been committing to road improvements and this partnership with the Assembly will go a long way to drive development in the area. I also commend the DCE for the forward thinking,” he said.

A Joint Road Reshaping Committee has been established to oversee the planning, coordination, and monitoring of the partnership.

The pilot project shall remain in force for an initial period of three months from the date of execution.

Source: Emmanuel Bright Quaicoe

He gave the assurance during a working visit to the company’s site on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, following recent tensions that resulted in the destruction of company property and equipment and the death of a resident on September 9.

The disturbances stemmed from a confrontation between military personnel and local community members on the company’s concession, which led to property damage estimated at over US$33 million. Community members attributed the incident to unmet development expectations, which they said pushed them to encroach on the concession.

Speaking to Asanko Gold’s leadership, Minister Buah stressed the urgent need for peaceful coexistence.

“As a government, we are committed to getting to the bottom of this matter and ensuring that such a tragedy is not repeated. Dialogue and mutual understanding must prevail,” he said.

As part of his visit, the Minister inspected the company’s mining operations and urged management to strictly adhere to mining regulations, while making community engagement and development central to their activities.

He also visited the family of the deceased, who was the Assembly Member for the area, to commiserate with them and assured the community of a thorough and transparent investigation.

The Minister was accompanied by a delegation including Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Isaac Tandoh; Advisor to the Minister, Prof. J.S.Y. Kuma; Chief Inspector of Mines, Kofi Adjei; Director of Communications of the Ministry, Mawusi Mawuenyefia; National Coordinator of the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP), Ing. Frank Asare; and other ministry officials.

Source: Lands Ministry

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At a recent press conference by some residents, they had alleged the gold mining company has tasked the soldiers to frustrate them.

But the company is dismissing the allegations citing them as ‘inaccurate’ and ‘misleading’, urging the public to disregard these claims.

In a statement, management of the company noted the military presence in the town is part of ongoing state-mandated security initiatives by the Ghana Chamber of Mines to safeguard licensed mining companies across the country against threats posed by illegal mining operations.

“Illegal mining not only endangers lives and degrades the environment, but also significantly impacts state revenue, discourages legitimate investment, and creates unsafe conditions for both community members and Company personnel.

“In response to these risks, the government through the appropriate security agencies and in partnership with the Ghana Chamber of Mines has rolled out a standardized security intervention across all major legal mining operations in the country,” the statement signed by the Managing Director, Charles Amoah, noted.

According to them, the deployment was sanctioned by the Ghana Armed Forced, in collaboration with the Chamber of Mines – mandated to supervise and coordinate the operations of the mining industry.

It explains a consultative stakeholder dialogue chaired by the Security Councils of both the Amansie West and Amansie South districts was held, concluding on the deployment of the soldiers for the mine’s protection.

The company says the military deployment is not in any way to “punish” residents but rather ensure safety and conducive mining environment.

“It is essential to emphasize that this intervention is not punitive in nature, nor is it intended to intimidate or harass any individuals. On the contrary, its primary goal is to ensure safety, legal compliance, and a conducive environment for sustainable mining,” portion of the statement read.

At the said meeting, the stakeholders, including community leaders and local authorities, were also encouraged to assist in promoting peaceful self-evacuation from unauthorized mining sites.

The company says majority of the illegal miners in other adjoining communities have cooperated as it hopes similar situation could be realized in Tontokrom.

“We are hopeful that the same level of understanding and collaboration will be realized within the Tontokrom concession area,” the statement said.

The company says it remains commitment to respectful and beneficial relationship with all its host communities and is open for communication and genuine partnership to push development in the gold mining town.

The plan aims to create a self-sustaining socio-economic environment through alternative livelihoods, infrastructural support, capacity building, and strong partnerships.

Key focus areas include agriculture and livelihood development, education, health, water, sanitation and hygiene, as well as economic empowerment.

During the launch at Manso Nkwanta, the General Manager of Asanko Gold Ghana Limited, Ahmed Mohadini-Yahaya, emphasized that this plan is a social contract between the mine and the communities they serve.

He highlighted impactful programs by the mine, including the Asanko Youth Apprenticeship Program, Asanko Scholarship Program, Women in Soap-Making Initiative, and targeted interventions in education and agriculture.

“The Asanko Youth Apprenticeship Program will provide practical training to address youth unemployment, while the Asanko Scholarship Program will offer financial support to brilliant but financially disadvantaged students,” he said.

Mr. Mohadini-Yahaya also highlighted developmental projects undertaken by Asanko Mine since 2016, including constructing classroom blocks and teachers’ quarters, and providing mechanized borehole systems.

District Chief Executive Officers for Amansie West, Prince Morrison Manu, and Amansie South, Benjamin Marfo, praised the initiative, stating it aligns with the government’s policies to help bridge the unemployment gap and support development in their districts.

A representative of Manso Nkwantahene urged Asanko Gold Mine to implement the plan effectively.