The Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast and the Executive Chairman of Jonah Capital, an equity fund based in Johannesburg, South Africa, Sir Samuel Esson Jonah, has revealed he started working for a mine at age 19 immediately after his sixth form of education.
According to him, mining has been part of his entire life. Saying he has been involved in mining at all levels be it as a Worker or a Manager.
Sir Sam Jonah made the revelation in a one-on-one interview with Kafui Dey, on “The Breakfast Show” on GTV, Friday, April 22, 2022.
The former Chief Executive Officer of AngloGold Ashanti joined the then Ashanti Goldfields Corporation in 1979 and has worked in various capacities, including Underground Operations.
At the age of 36, he became the Chief Executive Officer, supervised the transformation of Ashanti Goldfields into a Mining Multinational, increased gold production from 240,000 ounces per annum to over 1.6 million ounces in ten years, and oversaw the company’s listing as the first operating African company on the New York Stock Exchange.
Also, Sir Samuel Esson Jonah admonished the youth to be humble wherever they find themselves. According to him, one could not acquire the set skills of knowledge he has acquired in life if he is not humble.
He explained that due to how he carried himself in a humble way, he got life lessons from everyone he came across.
Today, Sir Sam Jonah is the Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, He is Chairman of the Boards of Equator Exploration Limited, Scharrig Mining, Equinox Minerals, Uramin, Moto Goldmines Ltd, and Range Resources Limited.
He also serves or has served on various boards including Transnet, Mittal Steel SA, Ashesi University, Standard Bank of South Africa, Lonmin, the Commonwealth African Investment Fund (Comafin), the advisory council of the UN Secretary General’s Global Compact, President Olusegun Obasanjo’s International Investment Advisory Council on Nigeria, President Thabo Mbeki’s International Investment Advisory Council of South Africa, and President John Kufuor’s Ghana Investors’ Advisory Council. As well to his directorships, Jonah is a member of the advisory board of the London Business School.
Honours and recognition
Sir Sam Jonah who has been involved in mining throughout his life career has many honours including an honorary Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) degree awarded jointly by the Camborne School of Mines and the University of Exeter (UK) in 1996. Jonah House in Adisadel College has been named after his father, Thomas Jonah.
Read Also>>> ‘GHANAIAN OWNERSHIP OF LOCAL ECONOMY IS VERY DISAPPOINTING’ – SAM JONAH
In June 2003, Jonah became the first Ghanaian to be knighted in the 21st Century when he was presented with an Honorary Knighthood (KBE) by the Prince of Wales, in recognition of his achievements as an African Businessman, a leading Business Executive from the Commonwealth, and an International Public Figure.
Read Also>>> IF I WERE A PRESIDENT FOR ONE HOUR, I WILL STEP INTO KWAME NKRUMAH’S SHOES – SAM JONAH
Sir Jonah has listed among the richest people in Ghana. On 5th December 2019, he was appreciated by the Ghana Mineworkers Union with a Platinum Award for his contribution to developing the mining industry in Ghana.
Read Also>>> ‘WHAT WE HAVE IS AN EXECUTOCRACY NOT A DEMOCRACY’ – SAM JONAH CALLS FOR REVIEW OF 1992 CONSTITUTION
