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Keegan Resources Ghana Limited (KRGL), a mining firm currently undertaking exploration work in 12 communities in the Bontefufuom area in the Amansie-West District in the Ashanti Region, has given an assurance that it will continue to abide by the principles of sustainable environmental and social responsibility in the communities it operates in and compensate farmers affected by its operation. The Community Affairs Manager of the company, Mr Rammy Boro, gave the assurance when he was addressing a gathering of chiefs and people of the Bontefufuom area and stakeholders from both Amansie-West and Atwima-Nwabiagya districts at a public hearing on the proposed gold mining and processing project at a ceremony at Tetrem. The stakeholders included Members of Parliament (MPs), district chief executives, assembly members and representatives of the Minerals Commission. The public hearing, organised by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), became necessary because of the company's preparedness to go into actual mining and the need to give the local communities and other stakeholders the opportunity to express their opinions on how KRGL would develop the proposed Esaase Gold Project. The 12 communities include Kobea, Mankyea, Essuowin, Esaase-Manyia, Aboabo-Tetekaso, Tetrem, Mpatuam, Bonteso, Gyeninso and Akataniase. Mr Boro noted that since the company started its exploration work seven years ago, it had built strong links with the community through the Keegan Social Responsibility Forum (SRF). Mr Boro stressed that the SRF was seen as an effective mechanism to create lasting and positive sustainable development initiatives in its catchment area and also promote better understanding of the respective needs, values and aspirations of the communities and the company. Mr Boro noted that the company recognised quality health and safety practices as vital ingredients for the people and the production workforce in the mining industry and had put in place adequate measures which would address any occurrences. Touching on compensation, Mr Boro stressed that the company had already set up Compensation Negotiation Committee (CNC) to negotiate compensation for crops, land and immovable property. He gave an assurance that as required by law, adequate compensation would be paid to farmers whose crops and properties would be affected during the company�s operations. He said the company had already started paying compensation to some affected farmers. A Deputy Director at the Mining Department of the EPA, Mr Michael Sando Ali, in an interview with the Daily Graphic said the communities� input for the scoping report would be included in the environmental impact assessment. The Member of Parliament (MP) for Atwima-Nwabiagya South Constituency, Mr Osei Boakye, praised the company for its concern for the plight of the people and urged them to continue in that line. Nana Asare-Bediako and Mr Oti-Prempeh, District Chief Executives (DCEs) for Atwima-Nwabiagya and Amansie-West respectively, in separate statements, commended Keegan for its tremendous contribution towards the development of the area. They said though the company was still at the exploratory stage, its contribution to the communities in terms of honouring of its corporate social responsibility was absolute. The Chief of Esaase, Nana Osei Assibey, who spoke on behalf of the chiefs of the 12 communities, commended the company for its assistance to the communities.