Asante Gold Corporation, a gold exploration, development and operating company with a high-quality portfolio of projects and mines in Ghana has appointed two new Chief Executive Officers (CEO) to the company’s Board of Directors.
The appointees, David Anthony was named the Chief Executive Officer for Asante Gold Corporation whiles Edward Nana Yaw Koranteng take the role of the Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF).
The appointments of the two take immediate effect following official announcement by the company.
Mr Koranteng, prior to his appointment to MIIF, was the Business Head for East, Central and Southern Africa for Ghana International Bank plc (GHIB) in the United Kingdom.
He was stationed primarily in Nairobi, Kenya, where he was also responsible for GHIB’s energy and mining portfolio and led various financing projects in Ethiopia, Tanzania, Kenya and Malawi.
The company, however, announced also the departure of Nadia Abdul Aziz as a director of the company after he tendered in his resignation.
Chairman of the Board, Douglas MacQuarrie, commenting on the appointment of the duo stated that they come on board with in-depth experience which shall benefit the firm in its operations.
“The Board will derive significant benefit from these two new appointments. Dave’s appointment follows naturally from his role as Asante’s Chief Executive Officer for the past year and previously as Chief Operating Officer.
“Edward’s appointment reflects both his deep experience in mine finance and his perspective as a representative of MIIF, a significant Asante shareholder and a strong supporter of Asante’s gold mining operations in Ghana”, Mr MacQuarrie emphasised.
On Mr. Abdul Aziz’s resignation, the Board chair thanked her for the “outstanding contributions to Asante on the Board, the ESG and the Audit Committees” and added that they “look forward to her continued involvement in Asante’s community initiatives.”
In other related development, the Company having fully investigated the matters that arose at the Annual and Special General Meeting held on December 21, 2022, the Executive Committee of the Board that was formed has now been dissolved.
David Anthony
David Anthony has more than 40 years of experience in mine project development and operation at the senior management and executive levels. He worked with Barrick in Africa for 10 years and became COO of African Barrick Gold.
He has also worked in Canada, Ecuador, Brazil, Indonesia, Chile and Argentina to design, deliver and operate open pit and underground mines. Prior to Asante, he was Chief Operating Officer of Cardinal Resources Limited before its takeover by Shandong Gold for more than $500 million.
At the time, Cardinal was developing the 5 million oz (reserve) Namdini Gold Mine in Ghana.
Edward Nana Yaw Koranteng
Edward Koranteng is a lawyer and an experienced corporate and investment banker with over 23 years working experience. Since 2021, as Chief Executive Officer of MIIF, a sovereign minerals wealth fund, he oversees the management of Ghana’s equity interest in mining companies and manages all royalties paid to the state from mining activities.
Prior to his appointment to MIIF, Mr Koranteng was the Business Head for East, Central and Southern Africa for Ghana International Bank plc (GHIB) in the United Kingdom, and was stationed primarily in Nairobi, Kenya where he was also responsible for GHIB’s energy and mining portfolio and led various financing projects in Ethiopia, Tanzania, Kenya and Malawi.
Prior to that, he worked with the Chase Bank Group (Kenya), now SBM Bank of Mauritius, which included Genghis Investment Bank, as the Group Head for Energy, Oil, Gas and Mining.
He has held executive and senior managerial positions covering corporate, oil and gas and mining for Ecobank Ghana, Access Bank Ghana and Fidelity Bank. He began his career as a Management Consultant with PriceWaterhouseCoopers in 1999 in Ghana.
He also holds a Master of Laws Degree in International Banking and Finance from the University of Leeds.
About Asante Gold Corporation
Asante is a gold exploration, development and operating company with a high-quality portfolio of projects and mines in Ghana. It is currently operating the Bibiani and Chirano Gold Mines with combined forecast production of approximately 400,000 ounces of gold for 2023.
The Company continues with detailed technical studies at its Kubi Gold Project for early production. All mines and exploration projects are located on the prolific Bibiani and Ashanti Gold Belts.
Asante has an experienced and skilled team of mine finders, builders and operators, with extensive experience in Ghana.
The Company is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange, the Ghana Stock Exchange and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
Asante is also exploring its Keyhole, Fahiakoba and Betenase projects for new discoveries, all adjoining or along strike of major gold mines near the centre of Ghana’s Golden Triangle.
About the Bibiani Gold Mine Bibiani is an operating open pit gold mine situated in the Western North Region of Ghana, with previous gold production of near 5 million ounces.
It is fully permitted with available mining and processing infrastructure on-site consisting of a newly refurbished 3 million tonne per annum process plant and existing mining infrastructure.
Mining commenced in late February 2022 with the first gold pour announced on July 7, 2022. Commercial production was announced November 10, 2022.
About the Chirano Gold Mine
Chirano is an operating open-pit and underground mine located in the Western Region of Ghana, immediately south of the Company’s Bibiani Gold Mine.
Chirano was first explored and developed in 1996 and began production in October 2005.
The mine comprises the Akwaaba, Suraw, Akoti South, Akoti North, Akoti Extended, Paboase, Tano, Obra South, Obra, Sariehu and Mamnao open pits and the Akwaaba and Paboase underground mines.
Gold Equivalent Production in 2021 was 154,668 oz on a 100% basis (source Kinross Gold Corporation).
