Accra, March 15, GNA
– AngloGold Ashanti Ghana confirms an employee at its Obuasi Gold Mine in Ghana
has tested positive with the COVID-19 virus.
A statement from the
company said the employee is a Ghanaian who lives in the mine’s accommodation
and who recently returned from travel abroad.
“All necessary protocols
were immediately activated as soon as the employee presented himself to medical
staff with flu-like symptoms. The employee is in self-isolation in his home
under close monitoring by health professionals,” it said.
The company is
working closely with members of the Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Service
to trace all people with whom the employee may have been in contact.
Those who have been
in contact with the employee will undergo self-isolation and be closely
monitored by healthcare professionals as per the national protocol.
The Obuasi mine
site’s response plans have now been activated. Non-essential staff will work
remotely until further notice. Production from the mine will continue alongside
construction work related to the Obuasi Redevelopment Project.
The statement said
AngloGold Ashanti Ghana remains in a state of high-alert and preparedness to
deal with the global challenge presented by the COVID-19 outbreak.
The company has
stepped up screening and surveillance of employees, banned non-essential
travel, instituted a mandatory two-week self-quarantine for any arriving
travelers and increased hygiene awareness and facilities across its operations,
in addition to a range of other measures taken to mitigate the risks presented
by the virus.
AngloGold Ashanti
has a multi-disciplinary COVID-19 taskforce directing the company’s global
response to the crisis, with input from its health, operational, travel, human
resources, community relations, finance and supply teams, among others.
Each office and site
have emergency preparedness plans in place, developed in line with national
protocols and plans.
The first aim is to
protect employees, their families and our host communities. The worldwide
outbreak has thus far not impacted AngloGold Ashanti’s production. The company
is, however, constantly monitoring the situation as it unfolds, all the time
remaining in close contact with authorities in each country and with our key
suppliers and other business partners, to help ensure business continuity and
mitigate any interruptions that may occur.
The company is also
working with community groups and local authorities, to understand where it can
provide support to healthcare systems as they gear up to manage the pandemic.
GNA