By Jack Adom
Mrs. Joana Adamson, the Australian High Commissioner to Ghana has paid a day?s visit to AngloGold Ashanti – Iduapriem Mine to acquaint herself at first hand the ongoing ?developments and projects ?of the surface mining operation. She was accompanied by some senior employees of the High Commission and Prof J.S. Kumah, Vice Chancellor of University of Mining and Technology.
In her remarks, ?the High Commissioner observed that in terms of economic development, especially ?in the ?mining sector ?Ghana and Australian have long standing relationship ?with Australia; and the Western Region , in particular has been of great interest to Australia because of its vast expanse of mineral resources; adding that Australia has the expertise to help Ghana to explore the numerous ?mining ?opportunities in the country.. She called for more collaboration between Ghana and Australia to grow the mining industry for the two countries? mutual development.
On his part, Professor J.S. Kuma said the need to deepen the relationship between the academia and industry in closing the technological gap ?and ?improve the manpower base, machinery and make production more efficient was essential, adding that ?the UMAT has done so with the ?Iduapriem operation in the area of gold recovery ?and we believe we can still ?do more to improve the way things are done on the mine as well well?. In these tough and challenging times the university and the mining companies could do more collaboration to find solutions to some of the nagging problems facing the mining industry, Prof Kumah said.
In his earlier presentation, Mr. Samuel Noi, the Senior Manager for the Processing Department and Acting Managing Director of the Iduapriem Mine said the mine has always been run and directed in partnerships and that the AGA operation was building right ?partnerships and linkages ?to improve the operation. As to the reason why Iduapriem is still in business at the current low gold price, the acting Managing Director explained that ?it is so because the mine is all the time looking for efficiency and continuously improving the way things are done on the mine? and the result is that we are able to control cost and judiciously manage ?drivers of productivity..
