Accra, Aug. 24, GNA - The Government and mining companies are now in the era of win-win ere and could, therefore, count on the Government for the needed support and cooperation.

President John Agyekum Kufuor gave the assurance on Tuesday, when Mr Wayne Murdy, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Newmont Mining Corporation, now on a visit to Ghana led a delegation from the Company to pay a courtesy call on him at the Castle, Osu.

He expressed appreciation to the Management of the Company for their cordial relationship, training and environmental programmes for the people in their areas of operation.

Mr Murdy said the Company had made substantial progress in their explorations and operations with the people and was expected to begin with physical mining next year.

He said the Company had undertaken training and development programmes for the people including a three-week orientation course for the about 455 workers to be employed, provision of 41,000 seedlings for reforestation and electricity for the areas.

The United States based mining company, has since 2003 invested about 450 million dollars in the mining sector for the next four years. It would operate on the surface gold mining belt between Yamfo and Kenyasi in the Asutifi-North and Tano Districts in the Brong-Ahafo Region and Ntronang in the Birim-North District in the Eastern Region.

The Company is expected to employ about 900 people.