Akyem mine

Akyem mine is an open-pit gold mine near New Abirem in the Eastern Region of Ghana.[1][2] It is owned by Newmont. The mine was developed in 2005, with commercial production beginning in 2013.

Akyem mine
Location
Akyem mine is located in Ghana
Akyem mine
CountryGhana
Coordinates6°21′25″N 1°00′58″W
Production
ProductsGold
Owner
CompanyNewmont

The mine has resulted in environmental conflict in which farmers displaced by the mine complain that they were not fairly compensated for their lands; their protests have been violently suppressed. An international jury of NGOs criticised Newmont by awarding the company the Public Eye on Davos award for shameful violation of environmental and ethical principles in its mining activities in Ghana.

Background

Newmont owns two gold mines in Ghana, the other being Ahafo mine in the Ashanti Region. Ahafo mine has created some environmental degradation and conflict, including a fish kill in 2012.

Akyem mine is located in the Ajenjua Bepo Forest Reserve, which has generated concerns about ecological damage.[3]

The region has a long history of small-scale artisanal mining.[4]

Description and production

Newmont applied for permits from the Environmental Protection Agency in Ghana in July 2002.[3] Development began in 2005.[5]

The mine is an open pit 2.65 kilometre long and 900 meters wide with a depth of 465 m.[3] Estimated reserves are 7.7 million ounces of gold.[5]

Newmont announced commercial production beginning in 2013.[6] Newmont had invested $1.1 billion in the mine by 2013. and expected production of 450,000 ounces of gold from 2013 to 2018.[5]

Conflict

Since 2005, local farmers displaced by the mine have complained that they were not adequately compensated.[7]

In November 2005, two people were killed when farmers seeking compensation for their lands were shot at. A coalition of communities and NGOs condemned this violence and said it was part of a pattern of systematic violence by industry and state agencies against frontline mining communities in Ghana.[8]

In 2018, seven farmers who were protesting the mine were injured when police fired on them with rubber bullets. Newmont representatives maintained that farmers were fairly compensated for their lands.[9]

Newmont was criticised by a jury of NGOs who awarded the company the Public Eye on Davos award for shameful violation of ethical and environmental principles. The jury said that the company "destroyed unique natural habitats, carried out forced resettlement of local people and polluted soil and rivers."[10]

References
  1. "Assessment of Groundwater Quality in the Akyem Mine Area of Newmont Golden Ridge Ltd (NGRL)". 4th UMaT Biennial International Mining and Mineral Conference.
  2. "Newmont Akyem gold mine achieves productivity gains with Orica's autonomous measurement technology". International Mining. 2021-07-20. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  3. "GHANA: Dispute Over Newmont's Proposed Gold Mine At Akyem | corpwatch". www.corpwatch.org. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  4. Emmanuel Ababio Ofosu-Mensah (2017). "Historical and Modern Artisanal Small-Scale Mining in Akyem Abuakwa, Ghana". Africa Today. 64 (2): 69. doi:10.2979/africatoday.64.2.04.
  5. "Newmont to start operations at Akyem mines in October - MyJoyOnline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. 2013-09-10. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  6. EARTHWORKS (2011-09-26). "Newmont's Akyem Mine in Ghana Faces Community Opposition". Earthworks. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  7. NewDawn (2022-10-27). ""The People are Eating their Bread in Tears"". Liberia news The New Dawn Liberia, premier resource for latest news. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  8. "GHANA: Campaign to stop the violence in mining". www.minesandcommunities.org. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  9. "7 farmers injured in Newmont protest discharged". Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana. 2018-10-18. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  10. "World Economic Forum: Davos Under Fire". www.commondreams.org. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
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