MIT students at Iduapriem Mine

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) postgraduate business students have visited the Iduapriem Mine. They commended the management and employees of the mine for their focussed social programme to improve the lives of the people in the communities around the mine.

Though poverty is a challenge in the area, at least attempts are being made by the mining company to uproot impoverishment and create alternative opportunities, based on the company's core competences.

The students noted that the smooth and speedy implementation of the company's programme would not only create alternative job opportunities for the unemployed particularly the youth but also more significantly uplift the entire communities from poverty.

Miss Laura Wilcox, one of the students, explained the importance of corporate social responsibility, and described the mine's plan as robust and urged the company to extend it to as many people as its resources could handle.

Victor Coker, a member of the team, explained that as future global business leaders, they visited the Iduapriem Mine to learn at first hand the social successes of and the challenges involved in running a corporate social responsibility programme in a mining community. “We are happy with what we've seen and hope this will be expanded and sustained for the progress of the people and the country as whole”.

Peter Sampson, the Mine Manager, and Kwamena Sekyi Yorke, Head of Public Relations and Community Affairs made presentations on the history, cost/production fundamentals and community issues to the students, before they were taken round the mine and the communities.

Source: AGA