Akufo-Addo commissions Ghana’s first large-scale greenfield mine today

President Akufo Addo will on Friday 8 November, officially commission Cardinal Namdini, the first large scale greenfield mine located in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region.

This will be the first in 11 years since the Newmont Akyem mine was commissioned in 2013.

In an exclusive interview with Asaase News, the chief executive officer of the Minerals Commission, Martin Ayisi, explained that the US$ 700 million mine will boost gold production and increase government’s revenue.

“This will be a great feat for Ghana. The last time Ghana had such an experience was 11 years ago (Newmont Akyem Mines),” he said.

About Cardinal Namdini Mine

Cardinal Namdini mine is owned by Cardinal Resources, a unit of Shandong Gold, which received a licence for the facility in 2020.

The mine is expected to become a large gold producer, with production expected to begin in January 2025.

The construction of the Cardinal Namdini Mine was completed in a record time of 23 months and is expected to operate for the next 15 years.

Job creation

The project is expected to create 900 direct and over 2500 indirect jobs.

Martin Ayisi explained that a community development agreement has been signed by the company to ensure indigenes of Talensi equally benefit.

“Most of the jobs from this project will be given to Ghanaians. A large portion of the workers already employed at the mine come from the community.” Ayisi said.

“The benefit for Talensi and neighbouring communities will go beyond job creation. The company will invest in other sectors, including agriculture. This will in the long run curb the brain drain,” he added.

Other Benefits

The Minerals Commission boss believes the coming on stream of the mine coupled with the commissioning of two other mines, may move Ghana up the global gold production ladder.

“The bigger picture is that our gold production will go up. The other two (Newmont Ahafo North and Azumah Resources Ltd.) to be completed in the next few years, which means Ghana is going to cross 5 million ounces per year and may inch up to number 5, if not number 4, globally,” he said.

Ghana is currently Africa’s largest gold producer and the sixth largest producer in the world. Ghana has seen gold exploration slump over the past decade, limiting new projects and lowering output from big miners.

The country mined 4.03 million ounces of gold in 2023, driven largely by increased output from small-scale and artisanal miners. – AsaaseNews