clean and safe tap water, now, after the
limited distribution network was completed
and the project launched in January 2016,
that figure has risen to 36% although the
percentage is constantly challenged by the
growing rate of rural-urban immigration.
The mine has spent over $5.2m to fund the
project to its present stage.
In Guinea, AngloGold Ashanti’s subsidiary,
Société AngloGold Ashanti de Guinée
S.A. (SAG), through the Siguiri Economic
Development Programme (SEDP), promotes
local economic development. SEDP projects
include agricultural, aquaculture, skills and
enterprise development projects aimed at
developing small businesses and employment
opportunities for local communities. Currently
these include horticulture, cashew plantation,
rice/paddy farming and fish farming. SAG also
implemented a commercial-scale aquaculture
project (tilapia farming). Fish cultivation began
in the second half of 2017 and the first harvest
was in December 2017. Details on this work
are available in the
<SDR>
.
Further, as part of SAG’s commitment to
facilitate access to secondary education
by the communities in the nearby village of
Bouré and to establish a pipeline of educated
youth to drive the local Siguiri economy, the
company has provided free daily transportation
to school children in Bouré to attend school
at Siguiri (about 30km away) since 2002.
To ensure the sustainability of this work for
the benefit of communities, SAG expanded
education facilities, constructed and equipped
five libraries and computer rooms, constructed
39 teachers’ accommodation units, and
completed nine fresh water boreholes.
Since the establishment of the Iduapriem
Gold Mine Community Trust Fund in 2012, its
focus has been on providing infrastructural
development in the mine’s host communities
to advance the company’s participation and
contribution to their sustainable long-term
development. In 2017, the Trust Fund built
a state-of-the-art multi-purpose hall for the
Bankyim community, as well as a community
health facility at Wangarakrom. The hall, which
serves as a community centre, also hosts
other functions for the community, including
youth, and skills development programmes.
The health facility has clinical equipment
and the requisite furniture, is expected to be
commissioned in 2018.
Additionally, a community market is under
construction in Teberebie at Iduapriem and
expected to be completed in the first half of
2018. The market is aimed at encouraging
economic activity within the community, and
the market building will accommodate about
40 traders.
In Mali, when we began mining, the water
supply to the relocated villages at Sadiola
and Farabakouta was linked to the mine’s
water supply. To provide independent and
sustainable water to these villages, the mine
embarked on a community water project
which commenced in 2015. Construction
of the water system comprises a 150m
3
water reservoir, a solar-powered pump, a
secured pumping station, as well as the
piping distribution network to four villages
has been successfully completed and
the system tested. Related training and
social intermediation is provided to enable
beneficiaries to take over and independently
manage the water supply system once it has
been completed. Handover to beneficiaries is
planned for the first half of 2018.
At Obuasi, an apprenticeship programme
which was started 10 years ago following
focused group engagements with the youth in
Obuasi, as well as with the local municipality.
The programme focuses on strengthening the
socio-economic fabric of the area. More than
300 apprentices have been trained in the past
decade. This programme was also an attempt
to mitigate the effects of the downsizing of
the Obuasi mine with youth being trained in
skills that are required beyond mining and the
borders of the town.
Twenty youths from five communities were
selected for the pilot programme in mid-2016,
and all successfully graduated in 2017, with
certificates in auto-electrical engineering,
welding and fabrication. The apprenticeship
training programme is a partnership with local
traditional authorities and HR World Company
Limited, which provides training.
REGIONAL REVIEWS CONTINUED
Continental Africa
Security and human rights
During 2017, security efforts continued to
focus on an integrated approach for effective
management of the various challenges faced
by the operations. The five-point security
plan, implemented in collaboration with
communities, focuses on regenerating and
sustaining relationships with communities,
public security, pertinent governmental
agencies and security at sites, with the aim
of removing people from risk. The Voluntary
Principles on Security and Human Rights
(VPSHR), to which AngloGold Ashanti is a
signatory, remain a key driver for our security
management practices.
AngloGold Ashanti approved and adopted
a human rights standard in 2016
1
, and
began its implementation during 2017.
Human rights due diligence self-assessments
were completed by each operation in the
Continental Africa portfolio, and served as
gap analyses for understanding areas which
have the potential to intersect or infringe upon
human rights and to direct our interventions
where most required. All operations within the
region are scheduled to be assessed during
2018, which will assist further in promoting
awareness of human rights concerns among
relevant role-players.
USEFUL LINKS
1
Download the approved and adopted
a human rights standard
https://thevault.
exchange/?get_group_doc=143/1502453846-
HRDueDiligenceStandard.pdf
I N T E G R AT E D R E P O RT
2 0 1 7
99
Overview
Business context
Strategy
Performance review
Accountability
Shareholder information