Leading Ladies

 



Advancing the Status of Women

As we celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8, 2018, this year’s theme calls for us to “Press for Progress” for equality, in terms of pay and status for women. The World Economic Forum’s 2017 Global Gender Gap Report shows that if the rate of change does not improve, it will be over 200 years until real gender parity is achieved.

Golden Star recognizes the critical link between advancing the status of women and reducing the poverty burden and we are focused on empowering and supporting women.

Women in the Workplace

Lillian Awuah, longhole stope drill operator at the Wassa Underground Gold Mine

Golden Star employs women throughout our business. The mining industry is traditionally male dominated, but of our direct employees, 12% are female.  We employ 250 women in total and women represent almost 10% of senior staff (including three female vice presidents and two female Board members). This demonstrates our commitment to providing employment opportunities for women.

Valuing our Diversity

Members of the Wassa branch of the Golden Star Ladies Club

To further strengthen support systems for women, the Golden Star Ladies Club was inaugurated in 2010 to empower members to be advocates in the communities in which they live and to provide support, education and forums for uniting women.

Interest in the club lead to the establishment of branches at each mine site. With over 100 members, each branch develops and runs programs specific to their site and community needs.

Whilst the Ladies’ Club breast cancer awareness program has gained significant kudos, particularly through winning the Ghana Mining Industry Award Corporate Social Investment Project of the Year (see our December 2017 blog), it is not the only program of the Ladies Club. Read on to find out more…

Girl Child Education

The Ladies’ Club supports a number of programs focused on the education of girls and women. Through its girl child education program, pupils are educated about personal hygiene and they are encouraged to undertake science and technology studies.  They are also shown that mining is not only a business for men. This is to encourage and empower girls to challenge themselves and realize their potential.

A young lady at a school built by the Golden Star Development Foundation

Blood Donation Programs

In 2017 the Ladies Club held blood donation exercises at each mine in support of local hospital blood banks.

Blood donation provides benefits to the donors and receivers, with blood donors realizing health benefits including a reduced risk of heart attack, cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Throughout the 2017/18 programs, over 190 people were screened for blood donation, of whom, 115 qualified, making a significant contribution to blood stocks and potentially saving over 300 lives!
 

Blood donation at Golden Star’s Bogoso/Prestea mine

Managers, team members, contractors and community turned out in support of the events, all with praise for the Golden Star Ladies Club for promoting such valuable initiatives within the workforce.

Anthony, Esther, Samuel, Boniface, Patricia, Theophilus, McDonald, Kobby, Emmanuel and Robert - just some of our blood donation heroes!

               

Dr Djabatey Darko, Medical Suprintendent - Prestea Government Hospital
“Blood is life, as a popular local saying goes. Hospitals need blood to save lives. That is why it is essential for hospitals to have a blood bank. I am most excited about the use of organized groups for donations, as a large amount of blood can be collected in a day. That is why I am full of thanks to the GSR Ladies for organizing this blood donation program. The blood donated will help save the lives of very ill children and our maternal cases as well. Just a tea cup of blood could mean life or death for a child!”

Christmas with the Kids

In Ghana, Christmas presents a unique opportunity for family re-unions, to share love, to have fun and to celebrate the birth of Christ. The Ladies Club captures this spirit with children’s Christmas parties for local  school children.

 Dance time with the kids

Whilst there is plenty of fun, the programs are also held to motivate children to aspire to realize their potential.

Francisca Amponsah, Student- Old Subri D.A
“This is the first time I have celebrated Christmas with Golden Star and it was such a fantastic event. I am very happy to see all my friends together playing and having fun. I had so much fun that I didn’t want to leave when the program finished. Please continue to organize this often to make us happy and proud.”

Jennifer, Gifty and Dennis all enjoyed the day

Maggie, Salomey and Andrew show that teachers can also have fun!

The teachers expressed their appreciation to Golden Star too and proposed that in future years the children could showcase their talents though singing, quizzes and poetry!

If you'd like to find out more about Golden Star and its approach to CSR, please visit www.gsr.com/responsibility