Sulemanu Koney appointed independent director of Newcore Gold

Newcore Gold Ltd. has appointed former Ghana Chamber of Mines Chief Executive Officer Dr Sulemanu Koney as an independent, non-executive director of the company, effective immediately.

Dr Koney brings more than 35 years of corporate experience to the Canadian-listed gold exploration company, including 25 years with the Ghana Chamber of Mines.

He served as Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber from 2014 until his retirement in 2025. Before becoming CEO, he was the Chamber’s Director of Analysis, Research and Finance.

During his time at the Chamber, Dr Koney worked with mining companies, government institutions, traditional authorities, civil society organisations and other stakeholders on issues affecting Ghana’s mining industry.

Newcore said his experience included work across mining, energy, finance, security, logistics and environmental matters, as well as industry-academia collaboration, particularly with the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT).

Dr Koney also chaired the UN Global Compact Network Ghana for 10 years while serving as CEO of the Chamber, with a focus on corporate governance, business ethics and anti-corruption.

He was also the first Executive Director of the ECOWAS Federation of Chambers of Mines (EFEDCOM).

Before joining the Chamber of Mines, Dr Koney spent 10 years at Shell Ghana Limited in the Lubricants Marketing Department, including as a member of Shell’s dedicated mining team.

Doug Forster, Chairman of Newcore Gold, said Dr Koney’s experience leading the Ghana Chamber of Mines and his knowledge of the country’s regulatory and mining sector would support the company’s Enchi Gold Project.

“We are excited to welcome Dr Koney to our Board of Directors. His extensive experience, including leading the Ghana Chamber of Mines, is a valuable addition to our team and he is well placed to support Enchi through the development and permitting path forward with his strong relationships and knowledge of the Ghana regulatory and mining sector,” Forster said.

In connection with the appointment, Newcore has granted Koney 225,000 stock options at an exercise price of C$0.305 per share for five years.

The options will vest over three years, with one-third vesting after each 12-month period.

The company has also granted him 150,000 performance share units, which will vest after one year based on attendance at quarterly Board of Directors meetings.

Newcore said the grants remain subject to approval by the TSX Venture Exchange.

The Enchi Gold Project covers 248 square kilometres along approximately 40 kilometres of Ghana’s Bibiani Shear Zone.

Newcore is currently advancing exploration and development work at Enchi, including an ongoing 80,000-metre drilling programme.