Gold Fields Ghana Limited inaugurates projects

Brahabobom (W/R), April 3, GNA - Gold Fields Ghana Limited (GFGL) has inaugurated a number of projects totalling 467,000 US dollars at a ceremony at Brahabebom near Tarkwa.

The projects which form the first phase of the 2008 financial year infrastructural projects of GFGL, included construction of a three classroom block and two wells fixed with pumps at Brahabebom, a Junior High school block at Huniso, one unit transfer quarters for medical personnel at Tarkwa Government Hospital, and rehabilitation of two dormitories of Ghana Secondary Technical School in Takoradi. Mr. Anthony Evans Amoah, Western Regional Minister said companies may have their licenses from the State, but the companies could also enjoy a harmonious working relationship based on tactfulness, diplomacy and trust.

Mr Amoah expressed his gratitude to GFGL on behalf of the people of the Western Region for the construction of two WC and KVIP, a hand dug well at the Essipon Car Park for the "Ghana 2008" and the rehabilitation of two dormitories at Ghana Secondary Technical School, Takoradi.

He said Ghana had many natural resources, with a greater majority in the Western Region, adding that mining of these resources must be to the benefit of individuals and the community at large. Mr. Amoah said though the people may not have the technology or capital to explore those resources to the fullest, they could engage in allied services so as to make them benefit from these resources. He said the oil discovery offshore Cape Three Points could be used as a turning point in the economic development of the people if they engaged in banking, insurance, estate development, haulage, commerce and hospitality among other things.

The Regional Minister appealed to the chiefs and land owners around the oil fields to be mindful of the type of investors they dealt with especially when it concerned selling out property. He said the package of 2008 Project includes scholarships for students in Senior High School, vocational, tertiary institutions and apprenticeship and appealed to the beneficiaries to take their studies seriously to justify the confidence reposed in them by the company. He said it was only through hard work that they would become prominent citizens in their communities.

Mr. Ludwig Eybers, General Manager of GFGL, said since the inception of the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation Trust in 2002 the Tarkwa Gold Mine had so far spent over GH¢7.8 million or US$ 8 million on development projects.

He said the Company was more interested in the impact that the billions of cedis it invested had on the community members and that it would undertake impact studies to assess the impact of its project on the beneficiaries.

Mr Eybers said with the increasing gold price on the world market and increasing production of the mine, contributions to the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation had increased significantly since they were based on profitability and production.

He said his company, through the Foundation, was spending about two million US Dollars this financial year on community development, being the highest amount of money spent on community development in any particular year since the inception of the Foundation. Mr Eybers said the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation Scholarship Scheme, which was instituted in 2005/2006 academic year for brilliant but needy students in the communities was being sustained. He said 129 students were currently benefiting from the Scheme to help improve on their skills.

The General Manger said the University of Mines and Technology had not been left out of the Mine's assistance, adding, the University had been given 168.000 US dollars to help in the construction of a Geological Engineering Laboratory. He said a Bursary Award has also been set up to honour students who performed creditably in five selected departments of the University.