Cardinal Namdini Mine targets livelihoods beyond gold production

Cardinal Namdini Mine Limited (CNML) is pursuing initiatives to equip workers and businesses in its host communities with skills and economic opportunities that can sustain livelihoods beyond the mine’s operational life.

The initiatives include skills development for local workers, commercial agriculture and support for local businesses seeking to supply the mining industry.

The company’s plans emerged during a working visit to the mine near Biung in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region by a delegation from the Ghana Investment Promotion Authority (GIPA), led by its Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Abdul Razak Baba.

The visit formed part of GIPA’s Regional Investment Roadshow, which seeks to provide insight into investment activities and identify opportunities to strengthen Ghana’s investment environment.

During the engagement, CNML’s Vice President for Corporate Social Responsibility and Security, Qi Xuanya, outlined safety, environmental management, community development and local content as key priorities for the mine.

The company’s CSR Superintendent, Godwin S. Bade-Daamir, said it was working to develop transferable skills among local workers engaged through its 17 contractors.

With about 2,300 people working at the site, the initiative is intended to equip employees with competencies they can use in other sectors after mining operations end.

The mine is also exploring commercial agriculture as an alternative source of livelihoods for communities around its operations.

The move is aimed at creating additional economic opportunities beyond direct employment in mining and helping communities develop other sources of income.

CNML is further engaging local businesses through vendor summits and planned workshops designed to strengthen their capacity to meet the supply requirements of the mining industry.

The engagements are intended to improve local businesses’ readiness to participate in the mine’s supply chain and benefit from economic activity associated with its operations.

For GIPA, the visit offered an opportunity to gain first-hand insight into the operations of a major mining investment and the practical issues involved in linking investment to local economic development.

Mr Baba led the delegation as part of the authority’s efforts to engage businesses and assess opportunities to improve Ghana’s investment environment.

The initiatives outlined by CNML place skills development, agricultural livelihoods and local business participation among the measures being pursued to extend the economic benefits of mining beyond gold production.