Godsell Retires as CEO at AngloGold Ashanti

The Chairman of AngloGold Ashanti, Russell Edey, this morning announced that Bobby Godsell would be retiring from the company and the board with effect from 30th September 2007.The board simultaneously announced the appointment of Mark Cutifani as Mr Godsell's successor. Mr Cutifani currently holds the position of Chief Operating Officer at CVRD Inco where he has responsibility for CVRD Inco's global nickel business. He will take up his new position in mid-September.Commenting on the announcement, Russell Edey said, "The board and management of AngloGold Ashanti are very fortunate to have had the benefits of Bobby's inspiration, leadership and innovative flair for the past 12 years. I have no doubt that he will continue to make a contribution to South Africa in whatever course he chooses now to follow. We believe that Mark Cutifani is a person well-suited to meet the challenges which face AngloGold Ashanti and the gold industry at large".Bobby Godsell said today, "It is the right time to change leaders. In Mark Cutifani, a mining engineer with a wide and impressive track record of both operating and executive experience across a range of minerals, including gold, and on several continents, we have a new leader who brings exactly the qualities and experience needed for AngloGold Ashanti's new chapter."For my own part, after 34 years in corporate life I am looking forward to exploring new ways of being a constructive citizen of my country."Additionally, Mr Edey today announced that Roberto Carvalho Silva, after a long and impressive career with this company and its predecessor, spanning more than three decades, has decided to leave AngloGold Ashanti in September. The board and management wish him well in his future pursuits. Neville Nicolau will become the Chief Operating Officer of the company with responsibility for all operations. Mr Carvalho Silva will assist Mr Nicolau in the consolidation of the two operating regions, which will commence as soon as possible.A summarized version of Mr Cutifani's résumé, for information, followsMARK CUTIFANIEducationUniversity of Wollongong, WollongongB.E., Mining Engineering (First Class Honours)Previous Experience2007-date CVRD INCOChief Operating Officer2003-2006 INCO Ltd.Toronto, Ontario2006 Chief Operating Officer2005-2006 President, North America and Europe2004-2005 President, Ontario Operations2003-2004 Vice President, Mines Operations, Canada and UK2000-2002 SONS OF GWALIA LTDWest Perth, AustraliaManaging Director1998-2000 NORMANDY MINING LTDAdelaide, Australia1999-2000 Group Executive, Mining and Development1998-1999 Group Executive, Mining1994-1997 WMC LTD1997 Group Manager, Project Management1994-1996 Manager, Operations - Nickel1993-1994 SAVAGE RESOURCES LTDGeneral Manager, Coal1988-1993 KALGOORLIE CONSOLIDATED GOLD MINES1991-1993 General Manager, Operations, Gold1990-1991 Manager, Business Analysis and Development1989-1990 Manager, Open Cuts Operations1988-1989 Resident Manager, KMA1976 -1988 CRA LTDMelbourne, Australia1986-1988 Manager, Coal, Coalcliff1984-1986 Deputy Manager and Operations Superintendent1982-1984 Engineer, Planning, Coalcliff1976- 1982 Miner/Cadet/TraineePersonal DetailsMark, an Australian, is 49 years old. He and his wife, Luana, have four young children.
Source:John Owusu (GM - Corporate Affairs)

GIA resumes flight operations

Passengers of Ghana International Airline (GIA) who had been stranded for several days are being airlifted to London after the completion of arrangements to clear the backlog.GIA sources told GNA that the Airline encountered some difficulties because the plane, which runs the route, developed a technical fault. Two chartered aircraft brought in two batches of stranded passengers from London on Monday night.Passengers in Accra who were to have departed for London last Friday are expected to leave for London by a chartered aircraft on Tuesday morning, whilst those who should have left on Sunday and Monday are expected to leave for London on another chartered flight on Tuesday afternoon.The sources said the airline expected the situation to return to normal soon.

Parliament rejects President’s nominee, freezes two

Parliament has rejected the nomination of Rev. Dr Akwasi Owusu-Bi as Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry, Private Sector Development and PSI.The House has also deferred until further notice the approval of Mr Kenwood Nuworsu as Deputy Minister of Manpower Youth and Employment and Ms. Victoria Bright as Deputy Minister at the office of the President.The House took the decisions after the Chairman of the Appointments Committee of Parliament; Freddie Blay had moved a motion for the approval of the last 14 Ministerial nominees who were vetted by the Appointments Committee of Parliament last week.The other 11 nominees were however approved unanimously by the House making the total number of approved nominees 23.The rejection of Rev. Dr Akwasi Owusu-Bi’s nomination was based on inconsistent answers he provided to some questions which were asked by the Appointments Committee while the deferment of the nominations of Mr Kenwood Nuworsu and Ms Victoria Bright was aimed at giving the Appointments Committee more time to investigate some issues about the nominees. Hon. Freddie Blay, Chairman of the Appointments Committee described the decision of the House as an evidence of deepening democracy in the country.Parliament rises on Tuesday, and so resumed sitting today in a bid to complete the task of approving the President's nominees for ministerial jobs. The Appointments committee is expected to present its report to the House for consideration today. The Committee sat last Saturday to complete vetting of three nominees; Frank Agyekum for deputy Information Minister, Frederick Opare Ansah for deputy Communications Minister and Maxwell Kofi Jumah for deputy Local Government, Rural Development and Environment.

Nuclear is way out

A committee of experts set up to plot the way out of Ghana's prevailing energy crisis has identified nuclear as the only long-term option. It has, therefore, called for immediate steps to be taken in pursuit of nuclear energy as an alternative source of power. The advice formed part of the recommendations of the committee set up by the President to consider the possibility of Ghana adopting nuclear as a long-term source of power. A source at the committee said that its members felt that Ghana had no choice but to opt for nuclear, since hydro and thermal energy could not provide the required mix needed by the country. Besides, it said, hydro and thermal energy were fraught with natural and operational difficulties from which the current energy crisis resulted. According to the source, members of the committee, chaired by the Chairman of the Council of State, Prof Daniel Adzei-Bekoe, noted that globally countries were opting for nuclear energy as an alternative source of power and cited France, where nuclear energy provided 80 per cent of that country's power, as an example. It said the committee, which would present its report to the President within a month, was now considering the types of reactors to use and where they should be placed. The source said members of the committee were also considering the means of financing the project. The committee was also looking into the legislation guiding the setting up of nuclear plants, it said, adding that "members of the committee are carefully planning" to ensure a smooth take-off. The source said building a nuclear plant was expensive but the cost of operating it was less than that of operating a hydro or thermal power generating system. Besides, it said, nuclear energy could serve as a source of revenue for the nation, since many countries in the West African sub-region lacked electricity. Asked whether Ghana had the financial wherewithal to operate nuclear plants, the source answered in the affirmative. On expertise, it said a core group of scientists could be trained to man the plants, since they would take between eight and nine years to start operations.It said the country could also seek advice and support from the Interna¬tional Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); In a related development, the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), in collaboration with the IAEA, has developed an integrated nuclear security support plan for the country.Consequently, experts from the !AEA are in the country to discuss the plan with the GAEC on how to implement it. The plan, among other things, seeks to protect the people and the environment from any radiological accident. The acting Director for Radiation Protection Board of the GAEC, Prof Geoffrey Ami-Reynolds, said this in an interview in Accra yesterday. Source: Daily Graphic