LOCOMS; Developing a Diverse Economy & a Vibrant Community

Golden Star recognizes that vibrant regional communities rely on diversified economies. We continue to focus on supporting our host communities in the development of a diverse economy and to retain a larger proportion of the value that is derived from the presence of our business.

A key part of our approach is to enhance the capacity of local businesses. In a pilot program in 2015, Golden Star sought expressions of interest from communities local to its Prestea operations which led to 17 new local companies being formed to supply products and services to our operations. The companies collaborate under an umbrella body, Local Companies in Mining Services or LOCOMS. 

The LOCOMS team at a safety meeting

LOCOMS has attracted business opportunities that previously would have been directed to larger companies in regional centres away from our host communities. During their partnership with Golden Star, LOCOMS have supplied 89 items of heavy equipment to our operations, involved three catering businesses, and directly employed over 250 people. The success of the project was recognized at the 2016 Ghana Mining Industry Awards as leading practice in Corporate Social Investment.

The LOCOMS concept has not only enhanced local employment but has re-invigorated the local economy with over US$ 27 million in payments made to the local companies since inception. LOCOMS companies have since been invited to bid on jobs in neighbouring west-African nations, and Golden Star has replicated the concept at its most recent Mampon mining project. 

We are thrilled to announce that at the Ghana Mining Industry Awards gala in December 2018, LOCOMS was named as the First Runner Up in the Category of Mine Supplies and Services.

Golden Star management celebrate the Ghana Mining Industry Award win with LOCOMS Chairman

LOCOMS and Golden Star management proudly display the LOCOMS award in Mining Supplies and Services

This is what the partners had to say about the LOCOMS recognition:

Nicholas Tieku (LOCOMS Chairman)

“I was very excited to hear that we won an award. We have been with Golden Star for three years now and to get this award means a lot us. We achieved this through hard work, teamwork and the support from the community. 

LOCOMS has given lives to people as we contribute to the community’s social amenities... Now with the help of GSR, we are bidding for contracts locally and internationally. This award has really made us proud”.

Francis Quartson (LOCOMS Secretary)

“This award is going to strengthen us to work as a team to achieve our aim. GSR is the brain behind LOCOMS.

LOCOMS has had a great impact on our lives by creating a mutual relationships between us and GSR. It has also enabled us to do a lot for our catchment communities. 

Looking forward five years from now, I believe LOCOMS will be one of the leading mining supply companies in Ghana”.

Nancy Amonoo-Aikins (LOCOMS member)

“I was excited when I heard that we have won an award. Our hard work has really paid off. 

LOCOMS has created employment opportunities for the youth. After completing Senior High School, I didn’t have a job, but through LOCOMS, I have been able to get a job as a cleaner. 

It has helped the community by improving their social infrastructure like roads, hospitals, schools and many more. GSR has helped LOCOMS by giving us the platform to work and we can say that, without GSR, there is no LOCOMS. 

Thank you GSR for your great support and long live LOCOMS!”

Christopher Mensah Ayison (GSBPL, Time and Attendant Officer)

“LOCOMS wining this award is a great achievement and they deserve it. GSR from the beginning has played a major role right from its formation until date. LOCOMS have contributed to the peaceful coexistence between GSR and their catchment communities. 

As a residence of Prestea, I have benefited from some of the initiatives LOCOMS is carrying out, like the dust suppression on the roads and sanitation improvement projects. The bins in my area used to overflow but now, LOCOMS have helped curb this. 

Thank you GSR and Congratulations to LOCOMS!”

James German (Golden Star Resources, Group Corporate Responsibility Coordinator)

“I felt excited when I heard GSR had won a number of awards at the Ghana Chamber of Mines 4th Industry Awards for 2018. When LOCOMS was mentioned as the runner-up, Best Performer in Mine Supplies and Services I just shouted hurray!!! 

LOCOMS, GSR local enterprise initiative has been recognized at the national level! I say ayeeko (thank you) to GSR for coming up with the initiative, LOCOMS members and executives for keeping up the vision and Ghana Chamber of mines for instituting an award scheme for this category. 

Today, I am happy to see LOCOMS undertake its own Corporate Social Responsibility projects in the areas of sanitation, road maintenance and donations to institutions within the local environment.

Well done! It’s a great idea!”

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

Golden Star Oil Palm Plantation (GSOPP) Wins Two Notable Awards

Congratulations to the Golden Star Oil Palm Plantation (GSOPP) for winning two major awards in 2018. GSOPP won the District Best Farm Based Organization Award at the National Farmer’s Day celebrations in Ghana for the third time and Best Performer in Corporate Social Investment at the Ghana Mining Awards for 2018. 

Golden Star directs $1 per ounce of gold produced to GSOPP with the objective to reduce poverty through employment generation and promote wealth creation through sustainable agri-business. GSOPP is a multi-award winning social enterprise project, established in April 2006 as a non-profit subsidiary of Golden Star.

The Golden Star Oil Palm Plantation is one of Golden Star’s most well-known community development initiatives, with an employee base of more than 767 people, comprising of both farmers and workers. A socioeconomic impact assessment conducted in 2017 demonstrated that 2,089 dependents benefited directly from GSOPP. 

With a significant number of people in our host communities benefitting from GSOPP, it is our commitment to continue expanding this landmark initiative every year. For more information on GSOPP visit; http://goldenstarinthecommunity.blogspot.com/2016/10/happy-birthday-gsopp.html 

Congratulations to the Golden Star Oil Palm Plantation team for their marvelous performance.

So what did the GSR, GSOPP staff and farmers of GSOPP have to say?

Peter Addai (Operations Superintendent, GSOPP)
“These awards are testaments of the wonderful work that Golden Star is doing to improve the livelihood of its communities.
GSOPP remains a significant flagship livelihood program for Golden Star and is indeed making a difference to people’s quality of life. GSOPP demonstrates that Golden Star is contributing to broader economic development in the area that will be sustainable beyond the life of the mine.
We aim to secure a processing plant to process all of our fresh fruit bunches to ensure GSOPP achieve its full potential to support economic growth in and around the Golden Star catchment area”.

Daniel Wiredu, GSOPP Bogoso Farmers Association Chairman
“The palm plantation has really been of help to me. I was a palm plantation farmer but my plants weren’t yielding fruit like they should. When GSOPP got involved, our farming produce started booming.  GSOPP handed over the business to us and the money that we are now getting is huge compared to our formal farming practices. I used to plant 10 archers of land but the fruit it used to bare was quite little. I wasn’t able to take care of my family as a result and I couldn’t enroll my kids in school. I've seen a great deal of hardship in my life but now the story is different as I am able to help my family. Now I feel proud as a father. My kids are enrolled in school all thanks to GSOPP. Ayekoo GSOPP on your award!”

Mr. Tuffour Quaicoe, award-winning smallholder farmer

"I am a beneficiary of a four hectare palm plantation under the GSOPP project. I have received a monthly income and that is what I depend on to support my family. All my children are in school and I have also been able to empower my wife in small-scale trading. In 2014, I was named the Districts’ Best Oil Palm Farmer during the National Farmer's Day celebration. Today, I am happy that GSOPP has been awarded for the third time the District Best Farm Based Organization Award at the National Farmer’s Day celebrations in Ghana and Best Performer in Corporate Social Investment at the Ghana Mining Awards for 2018”.

Mr. Joseph Amoako Yorke, HR Officer GSBPL
“To say I am overwhelmed about this achievement is an understatement. The work being done by GSOPP in helping a large number of people in our catchment communities earn a living which is remarkable and I am excited to be a member of the GSR team. Kudos GSOPP”.

                                 

Samuel Kow Wilson, GSBPL Community Development Officer
“For GSOPP to be honoured as the best social investment initiative does not come as a surprise at all. Its benefits are direct and of great benefit to the selected farmers, landowners and the community. There cannot be a more sustainable way of supporting our communities than having a sustaining plantation that provides a source of income to them. I am honoured and proud to be part of this story which elevates the GSOPP model.
I am confident that GSOPP will remain true to its original goal of serving as an alternative source of livelihood for Golden Star Resources’ host communities.”    

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

Let There Be Light

A well-lit community is a safer community and Golden Star is committed to helping our host communities be safer, in accordance with Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. 

A Sustainable Light System

The Bogoso community has experienced a rise in nighttime theft and to combat this, Golden Star’s employees and local community members have begun raising funds to improve the community street lighting.   The ‘Let There be Light’ campaign aims to install over 50 street light systems to benefit more than 5,000 people in the Bogoso community.  

What started out as an idea shared in casual conversation between coworkers has led to funds being raised that will not only bring light to the community but will also be used for the sustainable and on-going maintenance of the light systems. 

Improved visibility and reduced crime

 

What did the people involved with the campaign have to say about it?

Mr. Seth Darkwa, Group Purchasing and Supply Supervisor (Leader of Bogoso Let There be Light Campaign)

“The Let There be Light project was the idea of Golden Star assemblymen. This project was virtually announced in a workers’ bus en route to work. The company does many things for the community, and this time around, the employees are also trying to put in something to support the campaign. Improvement in the lighting system will enhance visibility and reduce crime at Bogoso. We are also looking at working with  various other communities in our catchment area.”

Mr. Nyanzu Agyabu, Golden Star’s HSEC Manager
“A group of young men visited me and indicated that the township is dark and as a result of that, stealing and other social vices are common. These people had already started mobilizing funds to buy streetlighting for the whole township.
People are in support of this campaign because many of them have become victims of theft  in Bogoso at night. The streetlight levies are paid by us all, and nobody is charged separately, so we need to utilize what we have been paying for as citizens. If the campaign generates excess funds, they can easily be used to buy extra bulbs to serve as spares for emergencies. The community appreciates the effort that people are putting in place to make Bogoso shine at night for a clearer visibility.”

Mr. Robert Gyamfi, Golden Star Community Relation and Social Responsibility Manager
“The value of lighting a community at night cannot be over emphasized.  And in the case of Bogoso, the story is no different. Since Bogoso became a district capital and recently elevated to a municipal capital, it has not really gained enough street lighting. The Let There be Light campaign has come  at the right time. It is going to make it difficult for thieves who commit crime under the cover of darkness and help people to walk freely with little or no fear.”

Evans Aboah, (Acting Area Council Chairman, Bogoso)
“The poor lighting system at Bogoso is really a problem. A good lighting system in a real sense beautifies the township. Darkness in the town gives thieves an upper hand as they hide in  places where there is no light and take people by surprise. This has made Bogoso a crime-prone area. We believe the  Let There be Light campaign will make Bogoso Township a better, safer place to live.”

Eligya Essel (Youth President, Bogoso)
“Police report statistics are showing the major problem at Bogoso township is  theft.  Thieves will hide in places where there is no light in order to rob people.  Let There be Light is here for good as it’s going to solve some of the problems that the community members are facing. We thank Golden Star for bringing this initiative and we hope that it will be sustained for the betterment of our next generation.”

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

A Sporting Chance

Golden Star, in collaboration with local community partners, has brought Prestea its very first multi-purpose recreational park through the transformation of a former unauthorized dumping site.

Recreational Park complex – phase one completed!

The History of the Site

The achievement of phase one of the park complex is amazing when you consider the history of the site. Less than 3 years ago, this is what the site looked like:

Positioned at the headwaters of the Nsuo Kofi stream, the former dump site posed serious hygiene and health risks to the community. Frequent algal blooming, mosquito breeding habitats and other sanitation issues were only a few of the risks present.

The Transformation Begins

Golden Star and Local Contractors for Mining Services (LOCOMS) worked together with Traditional Leaders to bring about the transformation. The partners worked together to clean the area, import capping materials, place and compact the cover, and implement drainage.

The site during capping

The partners then agreed on a plan to develop the area into Prestea’s first multi-purpose recreational park land. 

A plan was met with the approval of local youth, sparking a local youth NGO, Maintenance Sustainability Africa (MSA), who brought their support as volunteers to prepare and grass the site. This was the first time volunteering was mainstreamed in the area.

Grass preparation and planting

The Maintenance Sustainability Africa team at site

Grassing completed

In just a few months, the Golden Star team had installed two multi-purpose courts (one covered), a training facility and male and female change-houses and bathrooms.

Multi-purpose courts and training facility during construction and at completion!

The phase one facilities are part of a wider plan for the recreational park complex, which will later also host kiosks, a restaurant, a lecture room and a children’s playground. The courts, initially marked up for basketball, will also be marked to allow multi-purpose use for other sports, such as volleyball and futsal (five-a-side football).

General arrangement plan of the Prestea recreational park complex

Giants of Africa Basketball Clinic

In October 2018, Golden Star, in partnership with Giants of Africa, hosted a three-day basketball clinic for selected basketball players from across Ghana to commemorate the official opening of the recreational facility.

The clinic was conducted by Godwin Owinje, co-founder of Giants of Africa, and Michael Akuboh, a scout for the NBA team, Toronto Raptors. 

Godwin Owinje commented: “This is a world class facility that will help promote basketball in Ghana. The biggest problem in most African countries when it comes to growing basketball is the lack of facilities. I think that what Golden Star has done is a great start.” 

Traditional Leaders and Golden Star General Manager Ahmed-Salim Adam attend the official opening

Traditional Leaders receive basketball coaching

Creating a Pathway for Youth Through Sport

Creating a pathway for youth through sport is the mantra of Giants of Africa (GOA). 

The GOA mission is to use basketball as a means to educate and enrich the lives of African youth and grow the game of basketball within Africa through quality facilities, gear and coaches. 

GOA camps create awareness and support for underprivileged children and young adults and place emphasis on hard work, accountability, honest living and positivity.

Masai Ujiri, founder of Giants of Africa speaks from the heart about his mission: “Dream. It’s okay to dream, and it’s okay to dream big.”

Growing up playing basketball in Africa, Ujiri realized the abundance of talent in his homeland – but these players were often referred to as raw, lacking experience in the game and lacking access to coaching and facilities. Ujiri drew upon these personal experiences and founded GOA in 2003 – a non-profit organization with the goal of changing this reality. 

Today the GOA Top 50 Camp has developed players at the local, national, international and professional levels. To date over 80 campers attended high school or university in the United States, and over 100 attended university in Nigeria. In addition, nearly 20 former participants have played on junior teams in clubs throughout Europe – 30 of which have played on the Nigerian Junior National team, and nearly 55 have attended the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders program in Africa. 

Image courtesy of Giants of Africa

What has this opportunity meant to the selected Prestea basketball trainees, trainers and teaching staff?

Emmanuel Nyadedzor, a student of Prestea Senior High Technical School
“As a basketball player, I was looking forward to continuing with my training when my dad got transferred to Prestea. But to my disappointment, I couldn’t train because there was no basketball court in the community. Now with the help of Golden Star, I have been able to train consistently.  Golden Star basketball training has really helped me to acquire new skills as a basketball player.”  

Solomon Arthur, a student of Prestea Senior High Technical School

“I was selected during the drill at Tarkwa because of my experience and performance. I learned new drills like sliding, javelin passes, bounce passes, layup and many more. The trainer taught me to take the training seriously if we want to be like Michael Jordan and Steven Curry. I thank Golden Star for giving us the opportunity to train like professional basketball players. If we are well trained, we will achieve something profitable in life”.

The trainer, David Asangalisah
“My experience with the trainees was very interesting. For me, the initiative is very good. Basketball is a discipline that engages youth and keeps them on the right path. I would say a big thank you to Golden Star for giving me the rare opportunity to train the boys.”

Abdul Fahad, Fynn Upgrade International School
“My experience during the training was very helpful because I was able to learn new skills to help me improve my abilities.   With the training given, I now know I’m ready to meet my opponent.  The trainer related so well to us and I really enjoyed learning from him. I think Golden Star is doing a great job by training the youth in the community.”

Samuel Nana Armoo, the headmaster of Prestea Senior High Technical School

“Basketball isn’t well known to the people of Prestea, Bogoso and other villages close by. It is however, well known in Takoradi, Accra and Kumasi as they play league matches. The basketball court will give local youth a recreational activity and it will help to keep them out of trouble.  As a basketball trainer, I think this will help my students to develop their skills in basketball too. Golden Star has been doing well, and having a court here is a credit to the company.”

If you'd like to find out more about Golden Star and its approach to CSR, please visit www.gsr.com/responsibility. For more information on Giants of Africa and their programs, please visit www.giantsofafrica.org

If It's Not Safe, Don't Do It

At Golden Star Resources our people are our greatest asset and therefore a strong safety culture is our top priority. Every day our team members come to work in order to achieve a common goal and we take every precaution to ensure they are able to do so in a safe environment.   

In line with our commitment to sustainability, we aim to build a working environment in which our people are provided with the proper training to be productive and secure each and every day.

The wellbeing of our people is deeply rooted in our company values and is the basis of one of our most important slogans used on site: ‘If it's not safe, don’t do it.’ 

 At our operations, more than 154 employees participated in Golden Star’s Safety Standards workshops. Throughout these workshops dedicated teams of specialist personnel advised and supported our teams, providing them with the in-depth knowledge they need to ensure their safety while working in high risk environments.
 
Five areas of our operations were covered during the training sessions: Electrical, Driving and Mobile Equipment, Work at Heights, Cranes and Lifting and Drilling. At Golden Star we continuously aim to enhance our safety standards and believe providing our team with on-going training is the key to accomplishing an incident-free workplace.

 

Let’s hear what some of our team had to say about the training sessions:

Michael Nkansah, Plant Maintenance Manager (Work at Heights Champion)

“As a management champion, there is nothing more important than the implementation of safety standards. Improving our safety training is a good initiative and I am happy that everyone, including management, is in full support”

Ahmed Mohammed-Badaru, Exploration Superintendent (Drilling Champion)

“The drilling safety standards workshop allowed our employees to formulate and own these safety standards themselves. It was all inclusive and very interactive, making participation very easy for all. Employees are encouraged to observe these standards to avoid incidents, particularly fatalities, in order to uphold our safety as a value.”

Cheslyn Hewlett, Electrical /Instrumentation Superintendent (Electrical Champion)
“The electrical standards workshop has been useful and helpful in the sense that it prepares our team for potential risks when dealing with high voltages. Plans have also been made to include enhanced electrical safety standards training for every person undertaking the electrical induction”.

Sosthenes Baako Yalley, Risk Management Coordinator

“The social process of developing a safety standard across the business has been a great initiative and is a giant step in the right direction. As we aim toward incident free operation, setting acceptable working standards will improve and enhance our safety culture.”

Isaac Harrison, Mobile Equipment Supervisor (Cranes and lifting Champion)
“I am happy to be part of this program. The workshop has educated me on more effective ways to work safely and created an opportunity for us to consult our team members to draft the safety standards. This allowed for expert opinion and more practical ways of working safely.  I thank management for bringing such an initiative to enhance our safety in a way that will protect us and ensure we work effectively too”.

Jonah Quaicoe- Maintenance Service Planner (Work at Height Champion)

“I found the work at heights workshop to be especially useful and enjoyable. As the standard has been drafted in collaboration with people who are skilled in the industry, it has been developed in a practical and useful way.”

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

Building a Nation Through Youth Leadership

Golden Star is once again working with our host communities to provide practical experience for young people. Between 2010 and 2017, we have hosted 729 attachment students, 602 National Service personnel, 134 graduate trainees and 74 apprentices.

This year is no exception, with Golden Star hosting 122 National Service personnel from our host communities and beyond.

Inspired by Golden Star’s work and our commitment to sustainability, the National Service teams have carried out a number of their own volunteer programs as part of their contribution to corporate social responsibility (CSR). 

National Service personnel at Bogoso/Prestea

In February 2018, the National Service team began volunteering with projects that included free weekend tuition for basic school students preparing for their final exams in mathematics, information computer technology (ICT) and general science. In addition, career counselling in relation to educational programs was offered to the candidates to help them achieve their full potential.

National Service personnel at Bogoso/Prestea

The second phase of the National Service team’s CSR program included fund-raising and carrying out repairs and maintenance work to schools and a hospital. This work included:

• At Experimental Junior High School, Bogoso – plastering and painting a classroom block and replacing blackboards with white boards
• At St. Michael Catholic School, Bogoso – painting of the laboratory, carrying out a major electrical wiring upgrade, and providing an Epson projector and screen for use in ICT studies
• At Akyempim School A and B & Old Subri Junior High School, Wassa – providing books and stationary
• At the Government Hospital, Prestea – upgrading of old wooden theatre doors to sliding doors and painting of the out-patients department and dispensary

School children displaying their new stationary

A tutorial session for final year students

School children being taught about the importance of safety

In total, this year’s Golden Star National Service team raised almost 20,000 GHc (over US$4,000) for their CSR program, providing assistance to hundreds of children and local community members.

Golden Star is extremely proud of the National Service personnel and their efforts – not only in amassing such amazing financial support, but more importantly, for the leadership they have displayed through numerous hours of volunteer time and effort. Ayekoo!

After a job well done, the team members had this to say:

Eugene Addae, Golden Star’s National Service President at the Bogoso/Prestea operation

“Our core mandate on earth is to better the lives of our younger generation. CSR is a call to all; everybody can do little things which have a great impact. On behalf of the National Service personnel of Golden Star Bogoso/Prestea Ltd, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude to our general manager, the management team and the entire workforce for their tremendous support and advice throughout this project.”

Pricilla Boateng, St. Michael Catholic School
“We are very happy to receive the projector. Before it came we were finding it difficult to see and understand what our teacher was trying to teach us. With the projector, even if we have problems with our machines, we can see  our lesson on the screen. We thank the Golden Star National Service team.”

Juliet Rockson, Experimental Junior High School

“I thank you for filling the potholes in our classroom and painting my school. I am very happy about the whiteboards, as we no longer have to black the board every Friday which makes our uniforms very dirty. I thank the service people for doing this and we promise to study very hard to make them proud. God bless them.”

Janet Amankwah Yeboah, Headmistress – Experimental Junior High School

“We are very grateful to have been chosen for a CSR project. I was surprised when they brought the proposal of installing the white boards, filling the classroom potholes, and plastering and painting the building, which had never been painted. I didn’t know if it would actually be done but in less than two months, the entire project was completed! I thank the 2018 Golden Star National Service team so much for contributing to the community and I pray for higher heights for them. Bravo for a job well done!”

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