Sekondi, Aug. 16, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Monday called on mining companies to be good corporate citizens in their areas of operation.

"Government expects the mining companies to continue to be good corporate citizens of the areas where they operate," he said. President Kufuor made the call when a delegation from Goldfields Limited and Aboso Goldfieds attending a Board of Directors meeting of the two companies paid a courtesy call on him at the Western Regional Administration in Sekondi.

He said for the prosperity of the nation, mining companies should cooperate with the leadership of communities where they operated. President Kufuor said good governance and the conscience of the people were critical to the well being of all.

He noted that when mining companies showed such values, they could count on the Government to support them to provide employment for the people to improve their living standards.

President Kufuor asked mining companies to ensure ecological balance in the environment.

Mr Chris Thompson, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Goldfields Company Limited, said the Company had since 1992 invested 700 million dollars in Ghana.

He said the Company had investment in many countries but Ghana was one of the best to invest in satisfactorily.

"The physical and legal environment in Ghana is ideal for investment," he said.