Our Chirano mine has poured its two millionth ounce. The event was celebrated by General Manager Ken Norris, several local chiefs and over one hundred mine employees.
Among those present were Katakyie Kwasi Bumangama, Paramount Chief of Sefwi Wiawso and Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi, Paramount Chief of Sefwi Anhwiaso, The Community Consultative Committee (CCC) Chairman, Nana Frimpong Manso, who is also the Chief of Sefwi Paboase and Nana Yaw Gyam, Chief of Etwebo.
“Today we are very pleased at Chirano to celebrate the 2 millionth ounce of gold poured and produced and to share this momentous occasion with our Traditional Rulers. This certainly marks a very historic occasion,” said Ken Norris.
In conjunction with the milestone, 28 employees donated blood to the nearby Bibiani Government Hospital. A provisional clinic was set up in the open air gazebo in the Chirano Mine Village. The project was organized by the Sefwi Health Initiative (SHI), a local NGO supported by Kinross under our community relations mandate and founded by Dr Alex Djan and Gisele Fortin, wife of Ken Norris.
Blood bank shortages are a perennial problem in Ghana due to low rates of voluntary donation; it is estimated that half of maternal deaths are due to lack of blood for transfusions. In recent years, SHI has also offered nutrition, health and exercise programs as well as breast cancer screening clinics.
Gold production at Chirano began in 2005. The mine is now focused on meeting its target of three million ounces by 2019.
A donor at the SHI blood clinic
Philip Owusu-Mensah, Ken Norris and Kwarteng Amoako-Nkansah
