Obuasi (Ash), Aug 26, GNA - AngloGold Ashanti has vowed to step up its community assistance programmes to improve the lives of people in the mine's operational area.

Mr Samuel Oti-Attakora, Manager in-charge of the Processing Department, said they would continue to build schools, provide water and sanitation facilities among other things and give employment, particularly to the youth.

He was speaking at a day's public hearing on the "Environmental Impact Statement" on the proposed Pompora re-mining and tailings pipe project by AngloGold Ashanti.

The programme organized under the auspices of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) brought together chiefs, assembly members and other opinions leaders from a number of communities to solicit their views on the proposed project.

Among the communities are Obuasi, Akrokerri, Sampsonkrom, Anyinam, Wawase, Kwabrafo and Susan.

The project involves the laying of pipelines from Pampora through Anyinam to Susan to process the gold and transport waste materials.

Mr Oti-Attakora said the Company would make sure that those whose houses and other properties are affected receive adequate compensation.

He gave the assurance that the project would be executed in such a manner that there would be no dust and noise nuisance and invited the communities to support them.

Deputy Director and Head of Mining of the EPA, Mr Ransford Sekyi, said the agency would not relent in efforts at ensuring that mining companies complied with environmental safety standards.

During the open forum, the people raised concern about the degradation of the area's environment through the operations of the mine.