Mining company launches development fund for community

Accra, December 16, GNA- Gold Fields Ghana Limited has launched a 250 million cedis development fund for the Abekoase community, near Tarkwa in the Western Region.

This is an outcome of the out of court settlement deal clinched by the people of Abekoase and the mining company.

The Abekoase community and Gold Fields went to court over their inability to reach an agreement on how revenue generated from mining activities in the area could be invested to develop the community. Mr. Albert Brendar, Managing Director of Gold Fields Ghana noted that establishment of the fund was meant to obtain a social license from the community for smooth running of the company.

He said it also forms part of the company's social responsibility and a process of ensuring a positive relationship and peaceful co-existence.

" We do not take our relationships for granted since we believe it will offer us a continuous social license to carry out the mining work for mutual benefit."

Mr Brendar urged the chief and people of the Abekoase community to use the fund to provide quality education for the youth, build good roads and other basic amenities for the community.

Dr. Abdel-Majeed Haroun, Deputy Minister of Mines commended the mining company for responding to the needs of the people, saying the company, to a large extent has demonstrated a level of social consciousness, which time past did not exist.

He said the company did not only want to extract wealth but had also taken prudent steps to improve the standard of living of the people in the community.

Dr. Haroun urged the people to make judicious use of the fund for it to benefit the entire community. Nana Moleba, Chief of Abekoase praised the Gold Fields for extending such assistance to the community.

He noted that the community resolved for out of court settlement of the impasse that ensued between them because they realized that dialogue was the best way to ensure peace in the area.

The chief was optimistic that the gesture would establish a healthy relationship between the company and the township. Madam Grace Moleba, Queenmother of suggested that the process of administration of the fund should be entrusted into the hands of the community.