Orezone Expands Board and Management Team

Company also added to S&P/TSX Global Gold and Global Mining Indexes


OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - April 6, 2011) - Orezone Gold Corporation (TSX:ORE) is pleased to announce that Patrick Downey and Keith Peck have joined its Board of Directors. Mr. Downey is a mining engineer with over 30 years of experience that includes senior positions at several large-scale gold mining operations. Most recently he has been President and CEO of Aura Minerals and prior to that President and CEO of Viceroy Exploration which was acquired by Yamana Gold in 2006. Mr. Peck is CEO of Lincoln Peck Financial Inc., a financial advisory firm focused on the resource sector. He has over 27 years of investment banking experience with a broad business background that includes public and private financings, mergers and acquisitions.

The company is also pleased to report that Sean Homuth has returned, after a brief absence, to the position of Chief Financial Officer. He is a Chartered Accountant and a Certified Public Accountant and was involved in the development, construction and sale of Essakane in 2008/2009 and more recently with the spin-out and development of the Bomboré project. Joe McCoy is now VP Administration for Orezone and CFO for Brighton Energy Corp (67% owned by Orezone). Joe has over 25 years of financial and operational experience with large scale projects. George McTaggart is our new VP Corporate Development, and is responsible for investor relations, marketing and communications. George holds an MBA and a B.Sc. in Geology, and has 25 years of marketing and mineral exploration experience. Eric Kossongonona has also rejoined Orezone to oversee Community and Public Relations in Burkina Faso. Eric was a key player in the resettlement of over 12,000 people at the Essakane mine.

"With a focus on developing Orezone's pipeline of advanced gold projects, we are strengthening our position with the addition of key people that have a track record of success," said Ron Little, President and CEO for Orezone. "As well, our inclusion in the two benchmark indexes reflects Orezone's outstanding growth and will enhance our trading volume."

Orezone is a gold exploration and development company with significant gold resources in Burkina Faso and more than 15 years of operating experience in West Africa, one of the world's fastest growing gold producing regions. Orezone is focused on developing Bomboré, the second largest gold deposit in the country, and its pipeline of advanced gold projects. Orezone's mission is to create wealth by discovering and developing gold resources in an efficient and responsible manner for the benefit of its shareholders and other stakeholders.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS AND FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION: This news release contains certain "forward looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward looking statements and forward looking information are frequently characterized by words such as "plan," "expect," "project," "intend," "believe," "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. 

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward looking statements. These factors include the inherent risks involved in the exploration and development of mineral properties, the uncertainties involved in interpreting drilling results and other geological data, fluctuating metal prices, the possibility of project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future and other factors. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward looking statements.

Readers are advised that National Instrument 43-101 of the Canadian Securities Administrators requires that each category of mineral reserves and mineral resources be reported separately. Readers should refer to the annual information form of Orezone for the year ended December 31, 2010 and other continuous disclosure documents filed by Orezone since January 1, 2011 available at www.sedar.com, for this detailed information, which is subject to the qualifications and notes set forth therein.

Contact Information: Orezone Gold Corporation
Ron Little
President and CEO
613-241-3699
Toll Free: 888-673-0663
rlittle@orezone.com
or
Orezone Gold Corporation
George McTaggart
VP Corporate Development
613-241-3699
Toll Free: 888-673-0663
gmctaggart@orezone.com