The event comes as AngloGoId Ashanti is assessing future products and associated technical service requirements for its Obuasi and lduapriem operations, situated in the Ashanti Region and Western Region of Ghana respectively.

The event brought together the Company’s top executives and stakeholders from industry, government agencies and key financial institutions.

The Company aims to support small and medium enterprises to sustainably build and grow their businesses, compete effectively at the local and national level, and access new markets and finance to improve their long-term success and sustainability.

“Days like today allow us to share ideas and identify synergies with a view to create shared value,’’ Eric Asubonteng, Managing Director of AngloGold Ashanti Ghana Obuasi, said.

“We will be working hand-in-glove with a network of local suppliers of goods and services to ensure that the continued development of these two mines brings shared prosperity,” he said.

Mr David Noko, Executive Vice President Sustainability AngloGold Ashanti, said the company would want to work with as many Ghanaian companies to ensure a win-win situation.

He said it was important for Ghanaians to see the opportunity as significant.

“We are looking at putting Ghana first and Ghanaians first, creating capabilities in Ghana so that Ghana can industrialise,” he said, adding that it was a long term journey of AngloGold Ashanti in Ghana working with Ghanaian companies to ensure that this deal is done.

Mr Noko said AngloGold was continuously looking to building the capabilities in Ghana so would work closely with the suppliers to realise the dream. 

He urged multinational companies, which were seeking to take advantage of the opportunities in supplies to team up work with their Ghanaian counterparts so they could transfer some of the skills to them.

“It is going to be Ghana first, second and thirds,” he said and called on stakeholders to work with AngloGold Ashanti to realise the vision for Ghanaian suppliers.

 Mr Asubonteng provided an overview of the Obuasi project, its implementation and operational phases. Mr Jasper Musadaidzwa, Managing Director of lduapriem, also shared with the audience, supply chain opportunities and future projects at the mine.

He also outlined the Companies’ procurement process, including vendor registration, tender processes, local content requirements, AngloGold Ashanti’s Values and Code of Ethics, as well as its standards and protocols.

In addition, the Company will update the participants on its enterprise and supplier development programme, which aims to assist supply chain partners with access to finance; financial management skills; access to markets and opportunities; and improving management capacity.

A dedicated specialist organisation with sound experience in building the capacity of local enterprises will be engaged to facilitate this initiative.

AngloGold Ashanti recently announced the redevelopment of its Obuasi Mine, which has been in limited operating phase since 2014. The redevelopment is subject to ratification by Ghana’s parliament, of agreements covering the development and operation of the mine, as well as securing the necessary permits.

The redevelopment will establish Obuasi as a mechanised underground mining operation with a life of more than 20 years, a fundamental departure from how the labour-intensive mining method used in the past.

lduapriem, a large-open pit operation near Tarkwa, is undertaking a large cutback of its Teberebie pit to extend the life of the operation by almost a decade.