Jacob Y. Timbilla, one of the nation's most inspirational miners in gold industry, was on Saturday buried at the Ashanti Goldfields Company (AGC) European cemetery at Obuasi.

Popularly called Tim, a hardworking miner contributed greatly to the long-cherished successes of the AGC and provided leadership to the young and old miners of the company.

Tim, who passed away on Sunday, February 23, at the age of 54 after a day's admission at the AGC hospital at Obuasi, rose from an official learner's position to that of General manager, Projects.

Even at his death, Tim continued to make history for the company for being the first Ghanaian miner to be laid to rest at the company's European cemetery at Obuasi.

The late Timbilla joined AGC in 1973 and quickly demonstrated his unique potential in the mining industry by leaving traits of commitment to the job wherever he worked.

By dint of hard work, he became mine Captain in 1983, senior Manager - underground mining, and the general manager in 1998.

In a tribute, the management and staff of AGC said "at this crucial time of Obuasi's history when all indices point at underground mining as the source of our future sustenance we could wring our hands and say nature could have spared us the life of this versatile professional mining engineer a bit longer".

Describing Tim as a man with high-level interpersonal skills, the Ghana Mine Workers Union (GMWU) said he was one of the few managers who through the dint of hard work added value to AGC.

There were tributes from the AGC senior staff association, Northern Study Group, the Presbyterian Church and the widow, Mrs Comfort Akosua Timbilla.

Present at the burial service held at the AGC cricket oval were high-ranking officials of the Mining industry, Ministry of Mines, Ghana Chamber of Mines, the clergy and people from all walks of life.