AngloGold Ashanti Trust Fund assists 4 communities
FOUR communities in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality in the Western Region have been provided with various projects, financed by the AngloGold Ashanti Community Trust Fund, at a cost of GH¢434,469.00.
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The projects are a three-unit junior high school (JHS) block for the people of Abompuniso, an early childhood development centre for New Techiman, kitchen and toilet facilities for Pepesa and Teberebe, which started simultaneously in January this year, and was completed in August.
AngloGold Ashanti, operating the Iduapriem Mine at Tarkwa, launched the Community Trust Fund in September 2012 as part of the mine’s community investment strategy to support the long-term sustainable development of the company’s host communities.
African Mining Services (AMS), operating in the area, provided for all the furniture (dual desks, chairs, tables for teachers, cupboards and staff common room chairs) for the school project at Abompuniso.
Symbolic inauguration
Speaking at the symbolic inauguration of the JHS block at Abompuniso, Prof. Newton Amegbey, the Chairman of the Iduapriem Community Trust Fund Board, advised parents and guardians to enrol their children and wards in school for continuous education, stressing that education continued to play key role in the development of the life of an individual and the nation at large.
He said some of the host communities had already submitted their proposals for the 2016 projects, so processes for approval had started, and that implementation of selected and approved projects was, however, likely to begin before the end of this year.
The board chairman urged the communities, especially those that benefited from the sanitation facilities, to cultivate the culture of maintenance and also improve sanitation and hygiene in their areas.
Value intention
The Senior Manager—Sustainability of AngloGold Ashanti, Mr Emmanuel Baidoo, said it was the intention of the company to make a positive impact on people in the communities where they operate and the society, stressing that: ‘‘To demonstrate our commitment to living this value, our Community Investment Strategy focuses on health, water and sanitation, education and youth development and local economic growth, driven by the spirit of community participation and partnership with the municipal assembly.”
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25 women trained
Mr Baidoo announced that, as part of the company’s local economic development interventions, about 25 women in two communities, namely New Mankessim and New Tokunaso, were recently trained in batik tie-dye and pastries, and given other support of start-up kits to help them establish their ventures.
“We are working with the National Board for Small-Scale Industries (NBSSI) to develop a business model to help them sustain and grow their businesses,” he assured.
Mr Baidoo added that the company’s scholarship scheme had also supported 170 youth from the host communities to complete education at various levels, since its establishment in 2006, 90 youths were currently benefiting from the scheme.