Obuasi, Sept 18, GNA - The AngloGold Ashanti (Obuasi) will soon come out with a sustainable development plan under which the mining communities will be better off after the close of the mines. Mr Y.B. Amponsah, the General Manager in-charge of Human Resources, said a department to be manned by a general manager would be established to cater for the implementation of the plan. "We are creating a new environment where the economy, both micro and macro within our operational area, will still be active after the end of the mine", he told journalists at Obuasi.

Mr Amponsah said historically, the company had been assisting communities but that was not sustainable and that "We want to leave the communities better off by being vibrant and active". The General Manager said the sustainable development plan would consider a number of areas including environmental, community development with small and medium enterprises development initiative being the driving force behind the plan.

Mr Amponsah said a stakeholders' meeting would be held at Obuasi to discuss the new initiative and added "We will bring on board the illegal mining operators".

He said the activities of the illegal miners were deadly and urged the illegal miners to embrace the sustainable development plan since the company was concerned about their well being.