Thread: Employment Opportunities

Your posts make fascinating reading BBC. Thank you so much!

Makes us appreciate how very lucky we are to live in Australia.

Hi all,

Been off line, out of contact, and pretty busy for the past couple of months. My Induction Training has had me travelling to gain experience and training at two different mine sites, one called Goldfields, at a place called Tarkwa, and then, onto where I am now and where I am gradually taking over the role of Project Manager, for the Tyre Service contract supporting Newmont Gold, at Ahafo, some 8 hrs drive north into Ghana from the coast.

It has been interesting to see and gain experience in a couple of different locations, one predominantly Sth African, and the other USAnian.

Never been in the mining trade before, just 'de-mining'. The mining industry, especially amongst it's expats has a certain culture....more or less...a 'good ol boy' culture...if your been in it forever, and you are known, you are in. I accept that newcomers have to prove themselves.....but, what they people in the minining industry don't really appreciate....what they do....just ain't that hard!

Anyway, here until the next best thing comes up because, at the moment, a job, is a job, is a job....

Onto some photos. Here are some of the big 785 Cat Haul trucks we are servicing 24/7.



With our tyre handler:





I'll get some more photos soon of the pit areas to show the dimension of work. Newmont at Ahafo only opened in 2006, and it is just starting to expand out further in what is a massive concession, nearly 100km long.

Local town nearby is called Kenyasi. I am living quiet comfortably in the Senior Staff Village but, we like to go out and mingle locally (for a beer), because day to day life behind the security fence soon dulls...and outside, just close by, is Ghanaian life in all its difference and interests.

Local markets:





A difference between here and Mozambique is the heavier population and the fact of this pressure limiting wildlife...much of Ghana is simply tropical farmland, growing coacao, plantain, papaya, avocados, pineapples, sugar cane, yam, cassava etc. Though, there are a few 'joe blakes' around...unfortunately for this fella the other day...he was not faster than a 785 Cat Haultruck. A beautiful python...note the reticence of the Ghanaians to what is an obviously dead snake...even dead...they have some spiritual essence to the locals..Juju...magic:










We have stacks of tyres that have to be stored at some distance from the workshop, because of the space they take up, and my men are very cautious with work around the stacks, moving them etc. because they will often see cobras and mambas around them...great places for snakes to hole up.

The men that work for me are great. Been tyre fitting for 4-15 yrs...so, well experienced, and loyal.

Sometimes though, you see some stuff that really makes you wonder. This man, bless his soul, is one of the security guards, and his boss told him to water the grass everyday......and yes, that is a raincoat he is wearing...and yes...it is chundering down with rain.......:





more to follow.