Asanko Gold Ghana Ltd was at the weekend adjudged the Mining Company of the Year for their sterling performance in 2017 as a producing gold mine at the 4th Ghana Mining Industry Awards (GMIA).

Asanko Gold beat of stiff competition from some mining giants to emerge winner because of its excellent 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 90th Anniversary celebrations of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, was on the 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.

"Ghana has swung from a country that recorded trade deficits to one that is currently recording trade surplus," he said.

He indicated that large-scale gold producing companies strived 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.

Among the other awards are the Lifetime Achievement Award, which went to Noble Peter Sampson, Female Miner of the year Mrs. Joanna Osei Tutu Boakye and Best Performer in Corporate Social Investment Golden Star Bogoso Prestea Limited.

Awards for Best Performer in Occupational Health and Safety and Environmental Management both went to Gold Fields Ghana Limited, Tarkwa Mine while the Best Performer in Local Content went to Ghana Manganese Company.

Interplast Ghana Limited picked up awards for Best performer in Mine Supplies and Services and Best Performer in Local Manufacturing and Stanbic Bank grabbed the Financial Deal of the Year Award.