Gold Exploration in West Africa

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Two Randgolds (RANGY,GOLD) decouple on Ghana dining issue

'Randgold is Politically Neutral'
Business Day (Johannesburg)
August 11, 2004
Rob Rose , Chief Reporter
Johannesburg

LONDON-listed mining group Randgold Resources said yesterday it would remain "strictly politically neutral" and not try to curry political favour in any African countries in which it did business.

Although mining boss Brett Kebble dined with Ghanaian opposition presidential candidate John Evans Atta Mills last week, Randgold Resources CE Mark Bristow reiterated that Kebble was not linked to his company any longer.

Randgold Resources recently lost a bid for a lucrative Ghanaian gold mine to AngloGold Ashanti, but stressed yesterday it would not seek political favour to enhance its prospects in that country.

"Randgold Resources operates in a number of African countries, including Ghana, and our policy in all of these is one of strict political neutrality," said Bristow yesterday.

Bristow added that whatever dealings Kebble might have had with politicians in Ghana, they "are entirely his own business and nothing to do with us".

Kebble quit as a nonexecutive director in July 2003 , and Bristow said that since then, "he has had no direct involvement with this company".

However, Kebble remains CEO of Randgold & Exploration, the JSE Securities Exchange SA-listed company which holds 31% of Randgold Resources.