GAG Builds Centre For Kids

Adieyie, (W/R), January 19, GNA - The Ashanti Goldfields Company Limited, Iduaprem Mine (formerly GAG) at Tarkwa on Monday commissioned a 162 million-cedis early childhood Development Centre at Adieyie, a farming community near Tarkwa for the inhabitants at a ceremony held at Adieyie.

Commissioning the project, which consists of two classrooms, two offices, two toilets and two bathrooms, Mr Kwesi Ayensu, the District Chief Executive of the Wassa West used the occasion to advise parents in the area to make good use of the facility by sending their children to school because education is the bedrock of every nation. He commended the company for coming to the aid of the assembly by providing the centre for the people of Adieyie since the assembly had tried to provide them with a centre but its limited resources could not permit them.

Mr Ayensu appealed to the community to be moderate in their demands since the company is already doing a lot for them, adding that the country is in its golden age of business and so they should be prepared to receive more investors in the area

Nana Kwabena Osei Nkestia, the Wassa West District Director of Education commended the company for placing more emphasis on the development of education by providing the community with such a facility.

"I am particularly happy that management has fulfilled its promise to provide an early childhood Development Centre for the training of the toddler and this demonstrates the company's determination to ensure sustained development of its neighbouring communities by providing basic social facilities."

Nana Osei Nkestia appealed to the gathering to minimise all forms of conflicts and strive to maintain peaceful atmosphere because conflicts and tensions in the area are great source of worry to all, especially the educational sector, since they find it very difficult to attract teachers to conflicts areas.

He urged all stake holders, opinion leaders, the youth, employers and employees to recognise the need in reasoning together in the bid to resolve conflicts.

The District Director advised parents to send their children to the school since the structure and the facilities are meant for the education of their children adding that the children must be encouraged to go to the centre, with their basic needs being provided for. 'They must not only be fed well, but they must also be clothed adequately and the token fees must be paid promptly to enable teachers to do their work well.' He added.

Nana Osei Nkestia also appealed to teachers to redouble their efforts in building confidence in the school system since efforts, being made by all will not yield adequate result if teachers fail to reciprocate the efforts.

Mr David Renner, Managing Director of the Company said the centre was in response to an appeal made by the then headmaster to get an early childhood development centre for the children in the area. He added that as a company situated in the community it is the social responsibility to provide the community with some of their basic needs.

Mr Renner said apart from sanitation and potable water, education is one the their priorities since it is the backbone of every nation. He promised the community to upgrade the Adieyie basic school to an appreciable level and urged parents to make good use of the facility provided.

Mr Emmanuel Ofori, the headteacher of the school promised that to use the building together with all the facilities in it judiciously for the benefit of the little children, the school and the Adieyie community at large.

He appealed to all stakeholder as well as the management of GAG to consider it as a matter of urgency to find means of motivating the few teachers who have accepted the challenge to teach in the school as being done by some of the mining companies.

Mr Ofori also appealed to parents and elders of the town to enact laws to discourage school children from going out at night to watch video and films, adding that the target set by the teachers of the school will never be achieved if parents refuse to control their children, especially in the night. 21 JAN. 04