AGA builds US$6 million re-settlement community

Ms Shirley Ayittey, Minister of Environment Science and Technology (MEST), has inaugurated a US$6 million new township built to resettle the people of Dokyiwaa, in the Obuasi Municipality.

AngloGold Ashanti (AGA), had constructed it to relocate the over 1300 inhabitants from the mine tailing dam which had become a threat to their health and safety.

The new township boasts of tarred streets, street lights, drains, mechanized boreholes, community centre, primary school and a church.

There are also plans by the Company to add a Junior High School (JHS) and Technical/Vocational School to the social facilities.

Performing the ceremony, Ms Ayittey expressed concern about the growing illegal mining in the country and appealed to chiefs and people in the communities to join hands with the government to restore some sanity.

She asked them to have the courage to report the illegal miners to the security agencies.

The government, she said, was determined to tackle the unlawful activity head-on, which was not only denying the state of revenue, but destroying water bodies and the environment.

Ms Ayittey later inaugurated a GH¢250,000 palm kernel oil processing plant at Bidieso, near Obuasi.

It was jointly constructed by the AGA and the Obuasi Municipal Assembly to provide modern and environmental friendly operation site for women engaged in palm kernel oil production to reduce health risks associated with smoke and heat.

She also inspected the three-kilometre Obuasi-Sansu road funded by AGA at a cost of GH¢450,000.00.

These projects were undertaken in response to an appeal made by the Minister, when she visited the Obuasi mine about two years ago.

She commended the company for living up to its social responsibility to the people and advised the beneficiary population to take good care of the projects for their own benefit.

Mr Kwesi Eryan, Managing Director of AGA Obuasi Mine, said they were undertaking numerous development projects to help make things better for communities in their operation area.

Mr John Alexander Ackon, Municipal Chief Executive, said the assembly would continue to collaborate with the Company to provide the needed infrastructure to improve the living conditions of the people.

Nana Ponko Dabanka II, Konkahene, praised AGA for the modern housing units for the people.

He, however, reminded them to do everything to complete all other outstanding projects in the resettlement agreement to promote peace and harmony.

Nana Dabanka complained about the wanton destruction of the environment by illegal miners and urged the government to act more firmly and decisively.