(Ecofin Agency) - Newmont mining announced yesterday April 8, it has suspended operations at its Ahafo gold mine in Ghana. This decision follows a deadly tunnel roof collapse last April 7, killing 6 workers at the construction site of the expanded gold processing plant.

“Operations at Ahafo have been temporarily shut down and Newmont Ghana (ed: Ghanaian subsidiary of Newmont) has notified families of the deceased. All other employees working in the area have been safely relocated and the scene of the accident secured,” Agbeko Azumah, the company’s external relations and communications manager, said.

He also indicated that they have started investigations, but no information was revealed on when operations will resume. “Our focus at this time is to provide support to the families, co-workers and employees,” he added.

Let’s note that Newmont Mining operates in Ghana on two mines, namely Ahafo, which started commercial production in 2006, and Akyem, where the first gold bullion was produced in 2014.

Louis-Nino Kansoun