Kenyasi (B/A), Mar. 15, GNA - Mr Kwame Ofosu-Ampofo, Eastern Regiona= l Minister has advised mining companies to organize periodic training programmes for their unskilled workforce to help build their capacity to cope with work. He said this would enable the youth in the areas to feel and develop= a sense of ownership and to play their respective roles to enhance the operations of the mining companies.

Mr Ofosu-Ampofo gave the advice when the regional ministers attendin= g the second regional minister conference in Sunyani visited the plant site= of the Ahafo mine of Newmont Ghana Gold Limited.

The Ministers also visited the Ghana Nuts Limited at Hansua in the Techiman Municipality to acquaint themselves with the operations of the companies. Mr Ofosu-Ampofo said it was important for mining companies to strengthen their coordination by providing affected communities of the mi= ne with updated information about their activities.

He entreated the management of Newmont to adhere to the company's mandatory social responsibilities, especially in the areas of resettlemen= ts and payment of compensation, among others, to ensure that they live in un= ity with the local people.

Mr Ofosu-Ampofo said now that Newmont had obtained another lease to mine in the Eastern region, there was the need for the company to strengt= hen its relationship with the local communities in the area, to avert any possibility of communal clashes between mining companies and local communities.

Mr Moses Mabenga, Northern Regional Minister disclosed that the regi= on was bestowed with abundant minerals resources, especially gold, which cou= ld be tapped for accelerated development. He appealed to Newmont to consider mining in the region and help improve on the lives of the people. Mr Gordon Manford, Acting General Manager of the Ahafo mine said Newmont had spent 1 billion dollars as capital investment in Ghana and ha= d also paid 42.3 million dollars as royalties.

He said a total of 3.9 million dollars had also been paid into the Ahafo development foundation for sustainable development projects in the local communities.

Mr Manford mentioned resettlement of communities, speculative buildi= ngs and crops, illegal mining activities and high expectations of local communities for employment, as some of the major challenges that confront= ed the company. At the Ghana Nuts Limited, a commodity trader in Soya, groundnuts, cashew, Shea nuts and Sesame to Europe, United Kingdom, Japan and Indian,=

Mr. Prince Obeng Asante, Deputy Managing Director took the Ministers thro= ugh the operations of the company. He said the company's biggest assets was its workforce and appealed to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to support the company in its Shea nuts projects, especially by protecting it from forei= gn competition. Mr Mark Owen Woyongo, Upper East Regional Minister noted that Shea n= uts and cotton production were the main occupation of farmers in the region b= ut expressed regret that they lacked ready market, which had hindered their growth for a long period. He appealed to the Ghana Nuts Limited to establish linkages with the=

Upper East Regional Coordinating Council and the various district and municipal assemblies, to enable farmers in the region to feed the company=

with the required cotton and Shea nuts for exports. 15 March 10