Mining companies to face community resistance, if .

Tarkwa, (W/R) May 03, GNA - Mining Companies have been warned that they would continue to face community resistance if they failed to educate the public on their role in the country's mineral resource development programme.

Mr. Henry Antwi, a mining consultant based in Australia also stressed the need for such companies to address social equity, poverty reduction and other societal needs, since these are integral to minerals and mining related issues.

He was delivering a paper on the topic "Challenges Facing Mining Professionals in the 21st Century" at the Second Alumni Public Lecture organised by the Mining and Mineral Engineering Students Association of the Western University Collage at Tarkwa on Friday.

Mr. Antwi urged the mining companies to share in the dissemination of information on their contribution towards the country's economic development.

"Make the people to understand that mining is not just to create opening in the ground, but this goes to support your way of living", he said.

He noted that the industry has gained importance in the country's economy, providing one of the most dependable revenue-bases for the national economy.

Mr. Peter Amponsah-Mensah, Senior Manager of underground mining of Ashanti Goldfields Company spoke on "Ashanti-Anglo-Gold merger opportunities for engineers in the mining industry". He noted that, the labour market in Ghana portrays a mismatch between demand and skills supply, which he said was due to the lack of market information among other factors.

Mr. Amponsah-Mensah observed that the mining industry has seen "little growth" since 1997 due to the fall in gold price, which resulted in some companies folding up, while others cut down the strength of their labour force.

He said recently things have changed for the better and urged mining companies to build a better social, personal relationship with the people in their operational areas.

The Australian Gold Industry made a two-million-cedi offer for the best research student in sustainable mining in the country. Nana kwadwo Anomako III, Chief of Asuaso who presided, appealed to mining students to prove their worth by working to improve the environment and conditions at the workplace.

He said they should factor in their studies, the best alternative livelihood for the communities when the companies fold up in the future.