Joy FM’s Latif Iddrisu has been adjudged Mining Reporter of the year at the 4^th Ghana Mining Industry Awards.

Iddrisu picked up the award with his hotline documentary titled: “Sandy Gold: The bloody race to win sand in Ghana.”

The report captured the worrying trend of illegal sand winning in Ghana especially at the Nsawam Municipality in Eastern Region.

On the night to celebrate captains and players in the mining industry, Latif stood tall with his mining report.

Asanko Gold Ghana Ltd was adjudged Mining Company of the Year for their sterling performance 2017. The company defeated some mining giants to emerge winner as a result of its sterling performance in fiscal performance, Corporate Social Investment, technological innovation, local content, environmental management and health and safety records. Asanko Gold also won the award for Best Performer in Innovation.

The Regional Senior Vice President of Newmont Africa, Mr. Alwyn Pretorius was presented with the award for Mining Personality of the Year for improving the company’s efficiencies and ensuring that there were opportunities for local businesses to thrive in the host communities.

The 4th GMIA, which coincided with the climax of the 90^th Anniversary celebrations of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, was under theme: “A responsible and sustainable mining industry; a partner for national development.” Speaking at the awards gala, the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Ernest Addison stated that Ghana’s major export commodities - oil, gold and cocoa - had been posting strong performances over the last two years, adding: "Ghana has swung from a country that recorded trade deficits to one that is currently recording trade surplus."

He indicated that large-scale gold producing companies endeavour to adhere to the BoG’s regulation on the repatriation of receipts from the exports of commodities. This, he said has contributed significantly to "our country's macro-economic fundamentals which as you can see benefited us sincerely in 2017 with the stability that we saw in the performance of the currency."

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, who was represented by the Chief Director of the Ministry, Prof. Patrick Agbesinyale, commended the Ghana Chamber of Mines for organising the awards to celebrate and honour excellence in the industry. He further stated that the introduction of the Best Performer in Local Manufacturing of Mining Inputs category was critical because “manufacturing is the most important aspect of local content if we want to create jobs and transform lives.”

“Let me assure you that President Akufo-Addo is committed to promoting sustainable extraction and use of mineral resources, diversification of the economy with emphasis on the processing of raw materials and the strengthening of regulatory and institutional frameworks for the exploration and development of Ghana’s natural resources,” he added.

The mining awards, which is organised by the Ghana Chamber of Mines and Lindiwe Corporate Service also honoured a former member of the Council of State and first female Minister for Mines, Madam Cecilia Bannerman as well as the Foundation Vice-Chancellor of the University of Mines and Technology, Prof. Daniel Mireku-Gyimah for their exemplary contribution to responsible mining practices.

Below is the full list of awardees:

MINING COMPANY OF THE YEAR

Asanko Gold Ghana Ltd

MINING PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

Mr. Alwyn Pretorius – Newmont Africa

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Noble Peter Sampson

FEMALE MINER OF THE YEAR

WINNER:       Mrs. Joanna Osei Tutu Boakye

RUNNER-UP: Gifty Aframa Gandhi

BEST PERFORMER IN INNOVATION

WINNER:       Asanko Gold Ghana Limited

RUNNER-UP: Abosso Goldfields Ltd

 

BEST PERFORMER IN CORPORATE SOCIAL INVESTMENT

WINNER:       Golden Star Bogoso Prestea Limited

RUNNER-UP: AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine

 

BEST PERFORMER IN OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY

WINNER:       Gold Fields Ghana Limited, Tarkwa Mine

RUNNER-UP: Newmont Ghana Gold Ltd, Ahafo Mine

 

BEST PERFORMER IN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

WINNER:       Gold Fields Ghana Limited, Tarkwa Mine

RUNNER-UP: Newmont Ghana Gold Ltd, Ahafo Mine

 

BEST PERFORMER IN LOCAL CONTENT

WINNER:       Ghana Manganese Company

RUNNER-UP: Golden Star Bogoso Prestea Ltd

 

BEST COMPANY IN MINING EXPLORATION

WINNER:       Cardinal Resources Limited

RUNNER-UP: Azumah Resources Ltd

BEST PERFORMER IN MINE SUPPLIES AND SERVICES

WINNER:       Interplast Ghana Ltd.

RUNNER-UP: LOCOMS Company Ltd.

BEST PERFORMER IN LOCAL MANUFACTURING

WINNER:       Interplast Ghana Ltd.

RUNNER-UP: West Africa Forgings Ltd

BEST PERFORMER IN CONTRACT MINING

WINNER:       Maxmass Limited

RUNNER-UP: African Underground Mining Services

BEST MINING REPORTER

WINNER:       Latif Iddrisu, JOY FM

RUNNER-UP: Obrempong Yaw Ampofo, CITI FM

COMMUNITY SAFETY BRIGADE OF THE YEAR

WINNER:       Newmont Ghana Gold Limited

FINANCIAL DEAL OF THE YEAR

WINNER:       Stanbic Bank Ghana Ltd

BEST GRADUATE RESEARCH

WINNER:       Bagulo C. Ebito – University of Mines and Technology

BEST STUDENT INTER-MINES FIRST AID AND SAFETY ESSAY CONTEST

WINNER:       Nana Ekua Asante – Golden Star Basic School

1^ST RUNNER-UP: Adom K.O. Ghartey – Golden Star Basic School

2^nd RUNNER-UP: Eugenia Nyarko-Boateng – Afosu CRIG Basic School

BEST FEMALE STUDENT – UNIVERSITY OF MINES AND TECHNOLOGY

Martha Boahemaa Boahene

BEST MALE STUDENT – UNIVERSITY OF MINES AND TECHNOLOGY

Theophilus Acheampong Wireko